(Photo IOF)
The 2026 Junior World Orienteering Championships concluded in Karlskrona on Saturday with exciting relay competitions that produced two dramatic races and crowned Sweden as both the men’s and women’s relay world champion.
However, the victories came about in very different ways: In the men’s relay, Sweden delivered a consistent performance from start to finish to defend their relay title from last year. Edvin Johansson Liljegren was only two seconds behind the leading Finns (Eero Sorsa) on the opening leg before handing over to Anton Jonsson, who maintained contact with the front throughout the technically demanding course. On the final leg, Ludwig Rosén took control of the race and secured victory by 29 seconds ahead of Finland, while Switzerland completed the podium.
The race featured extensive forkings and several technically challenging controls that created time losses for many of the leading teams.
The women’s relay developed into one of the most dramatic races of the championships. After the opening leg, Sweden faced a significant deficit following time losses that left the team almost seven minutes behind the Swiss leaders.
On the second leg, Sprint and Long distance champion Freja Hjerne produced one of the fastest performances of the day, reducing the gap by more than six minutes and bringing Sweden back into medal contention before the final changeover.
The decisive leg remained open until the closing kilometres. Early mistakes cost Sweden additional time, but strong running gradually closed the gap to the leading teams from Czechia and Switzerland. With only a few controls remaining, navigation errors by the front-runners allowed Sweden to move into the lead and secure the world title. Norway claimed the silver medal, while Switzerland finished third.
Persson and Olaussen claim middle distance world titles
Friday’s middle distance races at the Junior World Orienteering Championships in Karlskrona delivered a day of high-quality technical orienteering, with Sweden’s Felicia Persson and Norway’s Sondre Olaussen taking the world titles in the women’s and men’s competitions.
The demanding courses in the forests of Blekinge combined intricate navigation with open granite terrain and slower sections of blueberry-covered forest, rewarding athletes who maintained concentration and precision throughout.
In the women’s race, Felicia Persson produced the standout performance of the day. Taking the lead early in the course, she continued to extend her lead before securing the world title by 1 minute and 46 seconds.
Hungary’s Janka Mikes claimed the silver medal after another strong international performance, while Finland’s Anni Jantunen completed the podium with bronze following a closely contested battle for the medals.
The men’s competition proved considerably closer. Norway’s Sondre Olaussen delivered a fast and consistent run to claim gold, finishing 22 seconds ahead of Sweden’s Ludwig Rosén.
The battle for bronze went down to the final finishers. Sweden’s Edvin Johansson Liljegren secured third place by just three seconds ahead of Hungary’s Mihaly Csoboth, while Denmark’s Mads Christian Maarup was only a further two seconds behind in fifth.
