Alexandersson: "I'll Never Stop Orienteering"

She is a big favorite to take more medals.

But orienteering star Tove Alexandersson is uncertain about her form ahead of the World Championship in Edinburgh.

It can go either way, she says.

Ahead of the World Championship in Scotland, Tove Alexandersson, 31, is Sweden's big gold hope. Just like usual. But this time, she herself doesn't quite know how her form stands.

This year, the World Championship hasn't been my main goal for the season, so I haven't set up any specific goals. But I hope my form will be good and then it can go either way, she says to TT.

What has been the main goal for the season?

I actually haven't had a main goal for the season, but rather seen it as a mid-season. It's forest orienteering that I focus most on, and now that it's only a sprint World Championship, I haven't really felt that I've wanted to go all in like I do against a forest World Championship.

Motivated

Alexandersson has a total of almost 100 medals from the Junior World Championship, World Championship, and European Championship. But Stora Tuna OK orienteerer still feels motivated to compete.

Orienteering is something I'll never stop doing. It's a fantastic sport and there are many orienteers who keep going... yes, until they die. As long as I feel that I'm performing at the highest level, it's fun to be there and compete, but just training and competing in orienteering, I'll probably never stop doing that.

How many medals will you bring home from Scotland?

Oh, yeah... Zero to three! No, but it can go either way, I of course hope it will go well, but I also know that sprint isn't what I focus most on, and that there are others who are incredibly strong, says Alexandersson.

Strong Swedish team

The World Championship takes place in Edinburgh between July 12 and 16, and for the second time, it will only include sprint events in the championship.

Sweden has sent a strong team, and national team captain Kalle Dalin has acknowledged that it was a tough choice for him to select who would get to go to Scotland, given that there are so many skilled blue and yellow orienteers.

We have an incredibly good setup in Sweden, many good elite environments, and many who focus on orienteering, which means we have a very broad top. Everyone who runs here at the World Championship has a chance at the very top placements, the competition is extremely tough, says Tove Alexandersson.

July 12, 16:30: Sprint.

July 14, 13:30: Sprint relay.

July 16, 17:00: Knockout sprint.

Women's individual sprint

Tove Alexandersson, Stora Tuna OK

Sara Hagström, IFK Göteborg Orientering (wildcard)

Hanna Lundberg, OK Renen

Karolin Ohlsson, Järla Orientering

Men's individual sprint

Gustav Bergman, OK Ravinen

Martin Regborn, Hagaby GoIF

Emil Svensk, Stora Tuna OK