There was no doubt which nation dominated the competitions at WOC this year. It was a record-breaking performance by the Swedish team, led of course by Tove Alexandersson’s 5 x gold performance. Norway and Switzerland had similar status with the same number of total medals, but with Norway gaining more silver than bronze.
Nokian Tyres World Orienteering Championships – Medal Table
| Gold | Silver | Bronze | |
| SWE | 7 | 1 | |
| NOR | 1 | 4 | 2 |
| SUI | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| Neutral athletes from Russia | 2 | ||
| DEN | 1 | ||
| NZL | 1 | ||
| UKR | 1 |
The medal monarchy
There can be no doubt about who is the queen of the Nokian Tyres World Orienteering Championships 2021. Tove Alexandersson was simply outstanding. What more can be said about a clean sweep and 5 gold medals in the same championships. But she was of course assisted by the strong performances of her teammates in the Sprint Relay and Relay competitions and for Sara Hagström (2) and Lisa Risby these were the first WOC medals of their careers. Simona Aebersold (SUI) had a another good championships taking home 4 medals to add to her 3 from WOC 2019, and Andrine Benjaminsen (NOR) had a breakthrough performance winning her first 3 WOC medals. Natalia Gemperle, competing as a neutral athlete from Russia, was the final multiple medal winner with 2 individual silvers at both sprint and long distance.
Medallists – Women
| Gold | Silver | Bronze | |
| Tove Alexandersson (SWE) | 5 | ||
| Simona Aebersold (SUI) | 1 | 3 | |
| Andrine Benjaminsen (NOR) | 2 | 1 | |
| Sara Hagström (SWE) | 2 | ||
| Natalia Gemperle (NEU) | 2 | ||
| Elena Roos (SUI) | 1 | 1 | |
| Lisa Risby (SWE) | 1 | ||
| Sabine Hauswirth (SUI) | 1 | ||
| Victoria Hæstad Bjørnstad (NOR) | 1 | ||
| Maja Alm (DEN) | 1 | ||
| Marie Olaussen (NOR) | 1 | ||
| Kamilla Steiwer (NOR) | 1 |
The medals were distributed much more evenly among the men, but Kasper Harlem Fosser (NOR) had overall the best WOC with the first WOC gold medal of his career at the final long distance competition, a race that he won in dominating style. He certainly should be considered the king of WOC 2021. Gustav Bergman (SWE) and Matthias Kyburz (SUI) both had strong championships and could pack 3 medals each in their luggage home. Maybe the biggest surprise of the week was Sprint gold medallist Isac von Krusenstierna (SWE) winning his first WOC medal from an early starting position in the final.
Medallists – Men
| Gold | Silver | Bronze | |
| Kasper Harlem Fosser (NOR) | 1 | 3 | |
| Gustav Bergman (SWE) | 2 | 1 | |
| Matthias Kyburz (SUI) | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Martin Hubmann (SUI) | 2 | ||
| Isac von Krusenstierna (SWE) | 1 | ||
| Emil Svensk (SWE) | 1 | ||
| Albin Ridefelt (SWE) | 1 | ||
| William Lind (SWE) | 1 | ||
| Audun Heimdal (NOR) | 1 | ||
| Gaute Steiwer (NOR) | 1 | ||
| Eskil Kinneberg (NOR) | 1 | ||
| Tim Robertson (NZL) | 1 | ||
| Ruslan Glibov (UKR) | 1 | ||
| Magne Dæhli (NOR) | 1 | ||
| Florian Howald (SUI) | 1 | ||
| Joey Hadorn (SUI) | 1 |
Congratulations to all the medallists and podium winners during the week!