Simona Aebersold and Tomáš Křivda claim long-distance gold as 53rd WMC Orienteering gets underway in Switzerland
STANS (SUI) – The 53rd CISM World Military Orienteering Championship entered its competitive phase on Wednesday, 21 October 2026, with the long-distance races taking place in the demanding Brennwald forest near Stans, Switzerland. In challenging weather conditions, Switzerland's Simona Aebersold and the Czech Republic's Tomáš Křivda emerged victorious in the women's and men's competitions respectively, claiming the first gold medals of the championship.
Following Tuesday's Opening Ceremony, more than 190 military athletes representing 26 nations faced a demanding test of endurance, navigation and mental strength in the forests of central Switzerland. Persistent rain, slippery rocks, difficult terrain and reduced visibility added another layer of complexity to courses already renowned for their technical challenges. The Brennwald forest, characterized by steep slopes, rocky formations, deep cracks and sinkholes, provided a spectacular yet unforgiving setting for the opening competition. With athletes required to combine physical performance with precise map reading and rapid decision-making, even the smallest navigational mistake could prove costly.
As Swiss athlete Anna Gasser explained after completing her race, "It was slippery and rocky, so technically demanding. But it's also a beautiful forest."
In the women's competition, Switzerland's Simona Aebersold lived up to expectations with an outstanding performance to secure the long-distance world military title. The current world number one, who had already claimed victory in the same discipline at the previous championship in Spain two years earlier, demonstrated her exceptional technical and physical abilities throughout the race. Competing over a course of 6 kilometres with 340 metres of elevation gain and 20 control points, Aebersold established the fastest time at every intermediate split before crossing the finish line in 52 minutes and 15 seconds.
Despite her dominance, the race remained competitive until the final stages, with Finland's Virna Pellikka producing an impressive performance to secure the silver medal in 54:54, finishing 2 minutes and 39 seconds behind the Swiss champion. The 21-year-old Finnish athlete, who previously earned bronze at the 2023 European Youth Orienteering Championships, confirmed her potential on the international military stage with a strong and consistent race.
Switzerland celebrated a second podium finish in the women's event thanks to Paula Gross, who claimed bronze in 56:10. The Swiss athlete had been ahead of Pellikka for much of the race but lost valuable time in the closing stages, eventually finishing 1 minute and 16 seconds behind the Finnish runner. Her performance nevertheless marked another significant achievement, repeating the bronze medal she had won at the previous edition in Spain.
France's Florence Hanauer narrowly missed the podium, finishing fourth in 57:33, while Switzerland's Lilly Graber completed the top five in 58:56. Poland's Aleksandra Hornik followed in sixth place with a time of 1:00:14, ahead of Sweden's Fanny Sundblad, Austria's Emily Adenstedt, Latvia's Signe Sirma and Poland's Ewa Bernaciak.
The men's competition delivered an equally exciting battle, with the Czech Republic's Tomáš Křivda producing an exceptional performance to claim the gold medal ahead of two Swiss competitors. Racing over a technically demanding 8.5-kilometre course featuring 510 metres of elevation gain and 28 control points, Křivda demonstrated remarkable speed and navigational precision to complete the course in 1 hour and 43 seconds.
For much of the competition, a Swiss victory appeared likely. Tino Polsini had recorded the fastest times at every intermediate split but was ultimately not classified after failing to correctly register a control point. His compatriot Fabian Aebersold subsequently established the provisional lead, completing the course in 1:03:16. However, Křivda, starting later in the field with bib number 126, maintained an impressive pace from the opening stages and eventually secured victory by 2 minutes and 33 seconds.
The Czech athlete, who finished second in the overall World Cup standings earlier this year, confirmed his position among the world's leading orienteers with a commanding performance on Swiss soil. For Fabian Aebersold, the silver medal represented a particularly satisfying result following his disappointment at the previous championship in Spain, where he had failed to finish the long-distance race.
Switzerland added another medal to its tally through Reto Egger, who completed the men's podium in 1:04:28, earning his first individual CISM World Championship medal. Finland's Akseli Ruohola finished fourth in 1:06:50, while Switzerland's Riccardo Rancan secured fifth place in 1:09:15, just one second ahead of Estonia's Timo Sild. Austria's Nicolas Kastner, Sweden's Gustav Hinder, Austria's Mathias Peter and Switzerland's Pascal Schärer completed the men's top ten.
The opening day therefore proved particularly successful for the host nation, with Switzerland collecting four of the six individual medals awarded, including one gold, two silver and one bronze. The Czech Republic and Finland completed the list of medal-winning nations, with one gold and one silver respectively.
Beyond the results, the long-distance races highlighted the unique demands of military orienteering, a discipline requiring endurance, concentration, adaptability and the ability to make accurate decisions under pressure. These qualities closely reflect the values of military service and remain central to CISM's sporting traditions.
The championship continues on Thursday, 22 October, with the highly anticipated relay competitions in the Kernwald forest, where teams of three athletes will compete for the next military world titles. According to the official start lists, 45 men's teams and 23 women's teams are entered for the relay events. The men's competition is scheduled to begin with a mass start at 10:00, followed by the women's race at 10:05.
In the men's relay, Switzerland will once again be among the leading contenders, with its first team consisting of Reto Egger, Riccardo Rancan and Fabian Aebersold, all of whom finished among the top five in Wednesday's long-distance competition. They will face strong opposition from several nations, including Finland, represented by Florian Fritzen, Lari Pernu and Akseli Ruohola; Austria, with Lukas Novak, Mathias Peter and Nicolas Kastner; and France, whose first team will feature Arnaud Perrin, Basile Basset and Antoine Becaert. Estonia, Sweden and Poland will also be looking to challenge for the podium, while the presence of teams from across Europe and other continents promises an exciting and competitive international field.
In the women's relay, Switzerland will field an especially strong first team featuring Paula Gross, Lilly Graber and newly crowned long-distance champion Simona Aebersold, who will take on the decisive third leg. Finland will also be among the teams to watch, with Kiia Kuusikko, Jenny Virtala and Wednesday's silver medallist Virna Pellikka forming its relay squad. France will be represented by Juliette Basset, Tifenn Moulet and Florence Hanauer, while Poland will rely on Ewa Bernaciak, Hanna Wiśniewska and Aleksandra Hornik. Sweden, Austria and several other nations will also aim to challenge the leading teams in what promises to be a closely contested race.
Following Wednesday's wet and slippery conditions, improved weather is forecast for Thursday, with sunshine expected over central Switzerland. Nevertheless, the technically demanding terrain of the Kernwald, shaped by a prehistoric rockslide, will continue to test the athletes' navigational abilities and teamwork. After the relay competitions, the championship will observe a rest day on Friday, 23 October, before concluding its sporting programme on Saturday, 24 October, with the sprint races through the streets of Sarnen, followed by the official Closing Ceremony.
As the 53rd CISM World Military Orienteering Championship continues, the performances of the participating military athletes once again demonstrate the values of determination, excellence, mutual respect and international camaraderie that unite the CISM family.
(Source: CISM Media & Communication Department - Pictures: Swiss Delegation to CISM)
