Photo: Tomas Bubela
On the 22nd of February, two years after the last FISU event, the races finally begun in Jáchymov, Czech Republic. After the second day and two events, sprint and pursuit, the championships are now half way through.
Jørgen Baklid from Norway won both gold medals in the men’s category. In the women’s category, two Russian students, Olesia Riazanova and Marina Viatkina switched their places on the podium having won one silver and one gold medal each. Both races were in demanding terrain in the surrounding of the Eduard Ski and iathlon Area. Enough snow, demanding courses, nice weather, and excellent performance of athletes is the best way to describe the races so far.
The course prepared by the Mareček duo, father and son, was very technical, containing difficult choices between fast skate tracks and shorter dashed trails. For sure we can say that we saw fantastic performances by all runners.
IOF President Leho Haldna together with Organizing Committe President and Council Member Dusan Vystavel (Photo by Jan Picek)
IOF President Leho Haldna visited the championships today and was satisfied with the venue:
“It is a very good arena – compact, not too big, some wide tracks but many possibilities of a narrow track made by snowmobile. I am happy that we met on-site at this event; cooperation with FISU is very important for the IOF”, said Leno Haldna.
On Friday, the 25th of February, after a day of rest, the athletes will continue the championships in a different arena called Jahodova louka. Saturday, the athletes will be back in the Eduard Arena for the middle distance, starting with a mass start.
Medal Table after Day 2:
| Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | |
| 1. | Russian Federation | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 2. | Norway | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 3. | Sweden | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 4. | Switzerland | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Follow Fridays Sprint Relay and the Middle Distance on Saturday via the WUSOC Live Page.
By: WUSOC Team, Dušan Vystavěl and Julianna Király