9.8.2006
WORLD CHAMPION IN LONG DISTANCE

I really enjoyed my 6th World Orienteering Championships in Denmark. I could do my best in long distance final and the result was excellent - I became the World Champion of the most traditional and wanted distance, long! That was my day and after 21 years of waiting Finland got men's second victory in long. In Australia 1985 Kari Sallinen, my favourite at that time, won the title. Few years later, when I was 12, I started to dream on the day I will become the best orienteerer in the world. Now, I lived my dream come true, although the dream had changed into a realistic goal in recent years. Still, I almost gave up my dream 2004, but I caught it in my mind 2005 and this year I've lived my dream: first European Champion and then World Champion - during the same year! It feels both full and empty, tears and laughter at the same time :-)

My preparation went as I planned and this year my plans have been very good, indeed. I'm sure I concentrated on the crucial things before and during the WOC. I had learned some important things from previous WOC's and was able to do the things better. After European Champion title I could train for WOC more relaxed and with huge amount of self-confidence. I think that my self-confidence was finally the thing that turned the long distance competition in my favor. I suppose that I knew more than any of my rivals that my own performance - I just do what I can do - takes me very near the highest place on the podium. That's why I did only what I could and reached, what I had dreamed on many many years.

The long distance race was more difficult and as tough as I expected. The first part of the course was tricky with green areas and interesting route choices. I was a little surprised by that, but felt better all the time. To seventh control I first planned to run right, ideal route, but changed my plan and lost one minute. To ninth control I missed my direction in green area and lost 45 seconds. To 25th control I ran too much on the right and lost 30 seconds. I didn't do my best ever competition in the biggest day of my athletic life, but I managed the tough and demanding course good enough.

-jani-