Fourth Long Distance gold for Olav Lundanes
Posted on | July 4, 2017 | Category: Arena, News
Flower Ceremony: l. to r. Leonid Novikov, Olav Lundanes, William Lind Photo: Malin Fuhr
2010 on home ground, 2012 in Switzerland, 2016 in Sweden and now again – a convincing gold medal performance by this determined Norwegian athlete to win by almost 2 minutes.
Photo: Matias Salonen, IOF Digital Team
Lundanes showed his determination in the way he set out from the start – almost a sprint down the run-out route. He posted fastest times throughout the course, but his run was not faultless. About making a mistake, “I know I was close to the control, but it is difficult even if you are close to it in the green Estonian forest,” he said.
This was his fifth individual WOC gold, and he retains his title from last year. “I am really really happy I managed to win two years in a row, and also get my fourth Long Distance gold. They are all completely different and I am proud I have been able to win in different terrains. Today it was a nice course with longer legs than I had expected.”
Silver medallist and closest contender throughout was the Russian Leonid Novikov. Middle Distance world champion in Finland in 2013, Novikov ran a well-paced race in the often difficult conditions. The bronze medal went to the Swedish athlete William Lind, his first individual WOC medal. Norway’s strength in depth in this kind of race showed as they took fourth and fifth places.
Tomorrow is a rest day, and competition resumes on Thursday with the Middle Distance race.
Leading men’s results, Long Distance
- Olav Lundanes NOR 1:45:25
- Leonid Novikov RUS 1:47:15
- William Lind SWE 1:47:38
- Magne Dæhli NOR 1:48:33
- Eskil Kinneberg NOR 1:49:58
- Daniel Hubmann SUI 1:50:24
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