Discussion: Looking back at WOC

1. I was really fun watching the USA women's relay team do so well. I know it's not in the league with the Aussies (amazing!), but we did better than we've done any time recently and beat a number of teams that we have been losing to. I was expecting them to do well, and nice to see them do it.

2. I think the men did better too, though finishing behind the Canadians, well, I wonder, did we maybe let them win so they wouldn't get too down? As with the women, our men were closer to the front than they had been in Japan.

3. It still amazes me to see some really good orienteers from the top O' countries making big mistakes. Pressure can do that. And much as I know our teams were nervous, I think the pressure on the Swedes and Norwegians must be greater. They certainly had some bad days.

4. Thanks are due to Tom Hollowell, our team leader for the third year in a row, and his crew of helpers. There is a lot going on at a WOC, and it takes good leadership to create the conditions for the runners to do their best.

5. Thanks are also due to a lot of folks back home who have supported the Team in one way or another over the past year. I hope you felt excited/inspired by how they did. Thank you for being a part of it.

It's only a year to the next WOC in Ukraine. We need to keep thinking about what we can do to keep getting better, and then acting on those thoughts to make it happen. Next August will be here before we know it.

An Australian perspective. I came home from Europe before WOC. I think that may have been a mistake! But back home, for the first time in living memory, orienteering was briefly on the national radio news bulletins and in the major newspapers. Even with photos. Runners with no connection to orienteering have been talking about Hanny Allston and maybe now are starting to understand that this is a running sport. The challenge we face is to build on this brief period of exposure. Can we increase the competitor base so there are more runners from the pool that produces future elite runners? Maybe we will get more media exposures over the next few years if Hanny keeps this going. Or maybe she will be lured to an Olympic sport? Whatever, it was exciting, even on the net half way around the world. I'm sure you in the US will get your turn for the same experience.

What can we do to keep Hanny in Orienteering? I hope she still has the long distance WOC title as a goal, and that she can get the support of her uni to be able to continue competing whilst finishing her medicine degree. Unlike olympic sports, Hanny can be sure that if she stays with orienteering she will be competing on a level playing field, and not worry whether her opposition are pharmaceutically enhanced.

Orienteering can seemingly be pretty compelling if you are truly elite. Would things be better for Simone if she weren't in orienteering? I have no idea about her dreams and desires, but being the undisputed queen of orienteering has brought her a fair bit of notoriety outside of orienteering circles. Hanny could have the same thing or try to make it to the top in some other sport. I'd go for the former.

I would like to second the thank you on all of the supporters and team enthusiast. It makes WOC a very special experience to know that a group of people is watching us, cheering us on, supporting us, brain storming on how we could get better, and cheering for us no matter how we do. Thank you!
Also a big BIG thanks to Tom, who once again was such a super coach and person to have at WOC. We are certainly lucky to have him, and hopefully he might even join us again next year...?!?!
And also a thank you to our team of hard working officials; Karen, Cristina, Dasha, Ross, and Kat you guys were great!!! Thanks for your help. It was fun to have you there.