List of World Orienteering Championships medalists (women)

This is a list of medalists from the World Orienteering Championships in women's orienteering.

Individual/Classic/Long

This event was called "Individual" from 1966 to 1989 and "Classic distance" from 1991 to 2001. Since 2003 it is called "Long distance".

Year Gold Silver Bronze Length and controls
1966 Ulla Lindkvist Katharina Perch-Nielsen Raila Hovi 6.6 km, 6 controls
1968 Ulla Lindkvist Ingrid Hadler Kerstin Granstedt 7.8 km, 10 controls
1970 Ingrid Hadler Ulla Lindkvist Kristin Danielsen 7.5 km, 10 controls
1972 Sarolta Monspart Pirjo Seppä Birgitta Larsson 7.1 km, 12 controls
1974 Mona Nørgaard Kristin Cullmann Outi Borgenström 7.9 km, 14 controls
1976 Liisa Veijalainen Kristin Cullmann Anne Lundmark 8.9 km, 16 controls
1978 Anne Berit Eid Liisa Veijalainen Wenche Jacobsen 8.6 km, 14 controls
1979 Outi Borgenström Liisa Veijalainen Monica Andersson 8.3 km, 10 controls
1981 Annichen Kringstad Brit Volden Karin Rabe 8.7 km, 12 controls
1983 Annichen Kringstad Marita Skogum Annariitta Kottonen 8.1 km, 18 controls
1985 Annichen Kringstad Brit Volden Christina Blomqvist 8.4 km, 14 controls
1987 Arja Hannus Karin Rabe Jana Galíková 8.8 km, 15 controls
1989 Marita Skogum Jana Galíková Alīda Ābola 9.7 km, 15 controls
1991 Katalin Oláh Christina Blomqvist Jana Galíková 10.5 km, 16 controls
1993 Marita Skogum Annika Viilo Yvette Hague 8.6 km, 14 controls
1995 Katalin Oláh Yvette Hague
Eija Koskivaara
9.7 km, 21 controls
1997 Hanne Staff Katarina Borg Hanne Sandstad 8.7 km, 17 controls
1999 Kirsi Boström Hanne Staff Johanna Asklöf 10.3 km, 18 controls
2001 Simone Luder Marika Mikkola Reeta-Mari Kolkkala 9.7 km, 17 controls
2003 Simone Luder Karolina Arewång-Höjsgaard Brigitte Wolf 11.8 km, 19 controls
2004 Karolina A Höjsgaard Hanne Staff Marika Mikkola 11.0 km, 25 controls
2005 Simone Niggli-Luder Heli Jukkola Vroni König Salmi 8.8 km, 21 controls
2006 Simone Niggli-Luder Marianne Andersen Dana Brožková 11.7 km, 24 controls
2007 Minna Kauppi
Heli Jukkola
  Simone Niggli-Luder 11.95 km, 23 controls
2008 Dana Brožková Marianne Andersen Annika Billstam 11.9 km, 24 controls
2009 Simone Niggli-Luder Marianne Andersen Minna Kauppi 11.8 km, 27 controls
2010 Simone Niggli-Luder Marianne Andersen Emma Claesson 9.9 km, 23 controls
2011 Annika Billstam Dana Brožková Helena Jansson 10.3 km, 21 controls
2012 Simone Niggli-Luder Minna Kauppi Annika Billstam 12.4 km, 23 controls
2013 Simone Niggli-Luder Tove Alexandersson Lena Eliasson 13.9 km, 23 controls
2014 Svetlana Mironova Tove Alexandersson Judith Wyder 11 km, 23 controls
2015 Ida Bobach Mari Fasting Svetlana Mironova 9.7 km, 19 controls
2016 Tove Alexandersson Natalia Gemperle Anne Margrethe Hausken Nordberg 11.2 km, 18 controls
2017 Tove Alexandersson Maja Alm Natalia Gemperle 11.4 km, 20 controls
2018 Tove Alexandersson Maja Alm Sabine Hauswirth 9.9 km, 18 controls
2019 Tove Alexandersson Lina Strand Simona Aebersold 11.7 km, 21 controls
2021 Tove Alexandersson Natalia Gemperle Simona Aebersold 9.5 km, 21 controls
2023 Simona Aebersold Tove Alexandersson Andrine Benjaminsen 11.0 km, 23 controls

Short/Middle

This event was first held in 1991. The format was changed and renamed "Middle Distance" in 2003 with the introduction of the Sprint discipline.

Year Gold Silver Bronze Length and controls
Short distance
1991 Jana Cieslarová Ada Kuchařová Marita Skogum 5.5 km, 9 controls
1993 Anna Bogren Marita Skogum Eija Koskivaara 3.7 km, 11 controls
1995 Marie-Luce Romanens Yvette Hague Marlena Jansson
Anna Bogren
4.6 km, 14 controls
1997 Lucie Böhm Hanne Sandstad Hanne Staff
Marie-Luce Romanens
3.3 km, 13 controls
1999 Yvette Baker Lucie Böhm Frauke Schmitt Gran 3.6 km, 13 controls
2001 Hanne Staff Jenny Johansson Gunilla Svärd 3.6 km, 11 controls
Middle distance
2003 Simone Luder Hanne Staff Heli Jukkola 4.5 km, 18 controls
2004 Hanne Staff Tatiana Ryabkina Heli Jukkola 5.3 km, 16 controls
2005 Simone Niggli-Luder Jenny Johansson Minna Kauppi 4.1 km, 13 controls
2006 Simone Niggli-Luder Marianne Andersen Tatiana Ryabkina 5.2 km, 22 controls
2007 Simone Niggli-Luder Heli Jukkola Marianne Andersen 5.08 km, 14 controls
2008 Minna Kauppi Vroni König-Salmi Radka Brožková 4.8 km, 23 controls
2009 Dana Brožková Marianne Andersen Simone Niggli-Luder 5.34 km, 22 controls
2010 Minna Kauppi Simone Niggli-Luder Marianne Andersen 4.53 km, 16 controls
2011 Helena Jansson Ida Bobach Judith Wyder 3.8 km, 16 controls
2012 Minna Kauppi Tove Alexandersson Tatiana Ryabkina 5.5 km, 18 controls
2013 Simone Niggli-Luder Tove Alexandersson Merja Rantanen 5.0 km, 15 controls
2014 Annika Billstam Ida Bobach Tove Alexandersson 5.0 km, 16 controls
2015 Annika Billstam Merja Rantanen Emma Johansson 5.3 km, 21 controls
2016 Tove Alexandersson Heidi Bagstevold Natalia Gemperle 5.1 km, 21 controls
2017 Tove Alexandersson Marianne Andersen Venla Harju 5.1 km, 21 controls
2018 Natalia Gemperle Marika Teini Isia Basset 4.8 km, 17 controls
2019 Tove Alexandersson Simona Aebersold Venla Harju
Natalia Gemperle
5.5 km, 20 controls
2021 Tove Alexandersson Andrine Benjaminsen Simona Aebersold 4.5 km, 20 controls
2023 Tove Alexandersson Natalia Gemperle Hanna Lundberg 4.8 km, 19 controls

Sprint

This event was first held in 2001.

Year Gold Silver Bronze Length and controls
2001 Vroni König-Salmi Johanna Asklöf Simone Luder 2.24 km, 10 controls
2003 Simone Luder Marie-Luce Romanens Jenny Johansson 2.6 km, 17 controls
2004 Simone Niggli-Luder Karolina A Höjsgaard Elisabeth Ingvaldsen 2.6 km, 11 controls
2005 Simone Niggli-Luder Anne Margrethe Hausken Heather Monro 2.1 km, 12 controls
2006 Hanny Allston Simone Niggli-Luder Kajsa Nilsson 2.7 km, 15 controls
2007 Simone Niggli-Luder Minna Kauppi Lena Eliasson 2.47 km, 14 controls
2008 Anne Margrethe Hausken Minna Kauppi Helena Jansson 2.5 km, 17 controls
2009 Helena Jansson Linnéa Gustafsson Simone Niggli-Luder 2.6 km, 18 controls
2010 Simone Niggli-Luder Helena Jansson Marianne Andersen 2.6 km, 21 controls
2011 Linnea Gustafsson Helena Jansson Lena Eliasson 2.2 km, 19 controls
2012 Simone Niggli-Luder Maja Alm Annika Billstam 3.7 km, 19 controls
2013 Simone Niggli-Luder Annika Billstam Venla Niemi 3.4 km, 21 controls
2014 Judith Wyder Tove Alexandersson Maja Alm 4.05 km, 18 controls
2015 Maja Alm Nadiya Volynska Galina Vinogradova 3.8 km, 21 controls
2016 Maja Alm Judith Wyder Anastasia Denisova 3.6 km, 20 controls
2017 Maja Alm Natalia Gemperle Galina Vinogradova 3.4 km, 13 controls
2018 Maja Alm Tove Alexandersson Judith Wyder 3.8 km, 17 controls
2021 Tove Alexandersson Natalia Gemperle Maja Alm 3.5 km, 20 controls
2022 Megan Carter Davies Simona Aebersold Alice Leake 3.8 km, 19 controls
2024 Tove Alexandersson Simona Aebersold Natalia Gemperle 3.8 km, 18 controls

Knock-out Sprint

This event was first held in 2022.

Year Gold Silver Bronze Length and controls
2022 Tove Alexandersson Megan Carter Davies Eef van Dongen 2.4 km, 11 controls
2024 Tove Alexandersson Karolin Ohlsson Simona Aebersold

Relay

Year Gold Silver Bronze
1966  Sweden
Kerstin Granstedt
Eivor Steen-Olsson
Gunborg Åhling
 Finland
Anja Meldo
Pirjo Ruotsalainen
Raila Hovi
 Norway
Astrid Hansen
Ragnhild Kristensen
Ingrid Thoresen
1968  Norway
Astrid Rødmyr
Astrid Hansen
Ingrid Hadler
 Sweden
Gun-Britt Nyberg
Kerstin Granstedt
Ulla Lindkvist
 Finland
Pirjo Seppä
Tuula Hovi
Raila Kerkelä
1970  Sweden
Birgitta Larsson
Eivor Steen-Olsson
Ulla Lindkvist
 Hungary
Magda Horváth
Ágnes Hegedűs
Sarolta Monspart
 Norway
Astrid Rødmyr
Kristin Danielsen
Ingrid Hadler
1972  Finland
Sinikka Kukkonen
Pirjo Seppä
Liisa Veijalainen
 Sweden
Birgitta Johansson
Ulla Lindkvist
Birgitta Larsson
 Czechoslovakia
Naďa Mertová
Renata Vlachová
Anna Hanzlová
1974  Sweden
Birgitta Larsson
Monica Andersson
Kristin Cullman
 Norway
Kristin Danielsen
Ingrid Hadler
Linda Verde
 Czechoslovakia
Dana Procházková
Anna Handzlová
Renata Vlachová
1976  Sweden
Ingrid Ohlsson
Kristin Cullman
Anne Lundmark
 Finland
Outi Borgenström
Sinikka Kukkonen
Liisa Veijalainen
 Hungary
Irén Rostás
Magdolna Kovács
Sarolta Monspart
1978  Finland
Outi Borgenström
Marita Ruoho
Liisa Veijalainen
 Sweden
Eva Moberg
Karin Rabe
Kristin Cullmann
 Switzerland
Ruth Baumberger
Ruth Humbel
Hanni Fries
1979  Finland
Leena Silvennoinen
Leena Salmenkylä
Liisa Veijalainen
 Norway
Anne Berit Eid
Astrid Carlson
Brit Volden
 Sweden
Anna-Lena Axelsson
Karin Rabe
Monica Andersson
1981  Sweden
Arja Hannus
Barbro Lönnkvist
Karin Rabe
Annichen Kringstad
 Finland
Helena Mannervesi
Marita Ruoho
Liisa Veijalainen
Outi Borgenström
 Switzerland
Ruth Schmid
Annelies Meier
Irene Bucher
Ruth Humbel
1983  Sweden
Karin Rabe
Marita Skogum
Kerstin Månsson
Annichen Kringstad
 Czechoslovakia
Iva Knapová-Kalibánová-Kusynová
Eva Bártová
Jana Galíková-Hlaváčová
Ada Kuchařová
 Denmark
Mette Filskov
Hanne Birke
Karin Jexner
Dorthe Hansen
1985  Sweden
Karin Rabe
Christina Blomqvist
Kerstin Månsson
Annichen Kringstad
 Norway
Ragnhild Bratberg
Hilde Tellesbø
Helle Johansen
Ellen Sofie Olsvik
 Switzerland
Susanne Lüscher
Frauke Sonderegger
Brigitte Zürcher
Ruth Humbel
1987  Norway
Ragnhild Bratberg
Ragnhild Bente Andersen
Ellen Sofie Olsvik
Brit Volden
 Sweden
Arja Hannus
Katarina Borg
Marita Skogum
Karin Rabe
 Czechoslovakia
Iva Knapová-Kalibánová-Kusynová
Iva Slaninová
Ada Kuchařová
Jana Galíková
1989  Sweden
Karin Rabe
Arja Hannus
Kerstin Haglund
Marita Skogum
 Czechoslovakia
Petra Wagnerová
Jana Cieslarová
Ada Kuchařová
Jana Galíková
 Finland
Marja Liisa Portin
Ulla Mänttäri
Annika Viilo
Eija Koskivaara
1991  Sweden
Arja Hannus
Christina Blomqvist
Marlena Jansson
Marita Skogum
 Norway
Hanne Sandstad
Heidi Arnesen
Ragnhild Bratberg
Ragnhild Bente Andersen
 Czech Republic
Marcela Kubatková
Jana Galíková
Ada Kuchařová
Jana Cieslarová
1993  Sweden
Anette Nilsson
Marlena Jansson
Anna Bogren
Marita Skogum
 Finland
Johanna Tiira
Kirsi Tiira
Annika Viilo
Eija Koskivaara
 Czech Republic
Petra Novotná
Mária Honzová
Marcela Kubatková
Jana Cieslarová
1995  Finland
Kirsi Tiira
Reeta-Mari Kolkkala
Eija Koskivaara
Annika Viilo
 Sweden
Anette Granstedt
Maria Gustafsson
Anna Bogren
Marlena Jansson
 Czech Republic
Petra Novotná
Mária Honzová
Marcela Kubatková
Jana Cieslarová
1997  Sweden
Anna Bogren
Gunilla Svärd
Cecilia Nilsson
Marlena Jansson
 Norway
Torunn Fossli Sæthre
Elisabeth Ingvaldsen
Hanne Sandstad
Hanne Staff
 Switzerland
Brigitte Wolf
Marie-Luce Romanens
Vroni König
Sabrina Meister-Fesseler
1999  Norway
Birgitte Husebye
Elisabeth Ingvaldsen
Hanne Sandstad
Hanne Staff
 Finland
Reeta-Mari Kolkkala
Sanna Nymalm
Kirsi Tiira
Johanna Asklöf
 Sweden
Katarina Allberg
Marlena Jansson
Anette Granstedt
Gunilla Svärd
2001  Finland
Reeta-Mari Kolkkala
Liisa Anttila
Marika Mikkola
Johanna Asklöf
 Sweden
Katarina Allberg
Jenny Johansson
Cecilia Nilsson
Gunilla Svärd
 Norway
Birgitte Husebye
Linda Antonsen
Elisabeth Ingvaldsen
Hanne Staff
2003  Switzerland
Birgitte Wolf
Vroni König-Salmi
Simone Luder
 Sweden
Gunilla Svärd
Karolina Arewång-Höjsgaard
Jenny Johansson
 Norway
Elisabeth Ingvaldsen
Birgitte Husebye
Hanne Staff
2004  Sweden
Gunilla Svärd
Jenny Johansson
Karolina Arewång-Höjsgaard
 Finland
Marika Mikkola
Minna Kauppi
Heli Jukkola
 Norway
Birgitte Husebye
Elisabeth Ingvaldsen
Hanne Staff
2005  Switzerland
Lea Müller
Vroni König Salmi
Simone Niggli-Luder
 Norway
Marianne Andersen
Marianne Riddervold
Anne Margrethe Hausken
 Sweden
Jenny Johansson
Karolina Arewång-Höjsgaard
Emma Engstrand
2006  Finland
Paula Haapakoski
Heli Jukkola
Minna Kauppi
 Sweden
Jenny Johansson
Kajsa Nilsson
Karolina Arewång-Höjsgaard
 Switzerland
Martina Fritschy
Vroni König-Salmi
Simone Niggli-Luder
2007  Finland
Paula Haapakoski
Heli Jukkola
Minna Kauppi
 Sweden
Annika Billstam
Emma Engstrand
Helena Jansson
 Norway
Ingunn Hultgreen Weltzien
Marianne Andersen
Anne Margrethe Hausken
2008  Finland
Katri Lindeqvist
Merja Rantanen
Minna Kauppi
 Russia
Galina Vinogradova
Yulia Novikova
Tatiana Ryabkina
 Sweden
Annika Billstam
Sofie Johansson
Helena Jansson
2009  Norway
Betty Ann Bjerkreim Nilsen
Anne Margrethe Hausken
Marianne Andersen
 Sweden
Karolina A. Höjsgaard
Kajsa Nilsson
Helena Jansson
 Finland
Bodil Holmström
Merja Rantanen
Minna Kauppi
2010  Finland
Anni-Maija Fincke
Merja Rantanen
Minna Kauppi
 Norway
Elise Egseth
Anne Margrethe Hausken
Marianne Andersen
 Sweden
Annika Billstam
Emma Claesson
Helena Jansson
2011  Finland
Anni-Maija Fincke
Merja Rantanen
Minna Kauppi
 Czech Republic
Martina Zvěřinová
Eva Juřeníková
Dana Brožková
 Sweden
Helena Jansson
Tove Alexandersson
Annika Billstam
2012  Switzerland
Ines Brodmann
Judith Wyder
Simone Niggli-Luder
 Sweden
Annika Billstam
Helena Jansson
Tove Alexandersson
 Norway
Silje Ekroll Jahren
Mari Fasting
Anne Margrethe Hausken
2013  Norway
Heidi Bagstevold
Mari Fasting
Anne Marghrete Hausken Nordberg
 Finland
Venla Niemi
Anni-Maija Fincke
Minna Kauppi
 Switzerland
Sara Lüscher
Judith Wyder
Simone Niggli-Luder
2014  Switzerland
Sara Lüscher
Sabine Hauswirth
Judith Wyder
 Denmark
Emma Klingenberg
Ida Bobach
Maja Møller Alm
 Sweden
Helena Jansson
Annika Billstam
Tove Alexandersson
2015  Denmark
Maja Møller Alm
Ida Bobach
Emma Klingenberg
 Norway
Heidi Østlid Bagstevold
Mari Fasting
Anne Margrethe Hausken
 Sweden
Helena Jansson
Annika Billstam
Emma Johansson
2016  Russia
Anastasia Rudnaya
Svetlana Mironova
Natalia Gemperle
 Denmark
Signe Klinting
Ida Bobach
Maja Møller Alm
 Finland
Sari Anttonen
Marika Teini
Merja Rantanen
2017  Sweden
Emma Johansson
Helena Jansson
Tove Alexandersson
 Russia
Anastasia Rudnaya
Svetlana Mironova
Natalia Gemperle
 Finland
Venla Harju
Marika Teini
Merja Rantanen
2018  Switzerland
Elena Roos
Julia Jakob
Judith Wyder
 Sweden
Helena Bergman
Karolin Ohlsson
Tove Alexandersson
 Russia
Anastasia Rudnaya
Tatyana Riabkina
Natalia Gemperle
2019  Sweden
Lina Strand
Tove Alexandersson
Karolin Ohlsson
 Switzerland
Sabine Hauswirth
Simona Aebersold
Julia Jakob
 Russia
Anastasia Rudnaya
Tatiana Ryabkina
Natalia Gemperle
2021  Sweden
Lisa Risby
Sara Hagström
Tove Alexandersson
 Switzerland
Elena Roos
Sabine Hauswirth
Simona Aebersold
 Norway
Marie Olaussen
Kamilla Steiwer
Andrine Benjaminsen
2023  Sweden
Hanna Lundberg
Sara Hagström
Tove Alexandersson
 Switzerland
Elena Roos
Natalia Gemperle
Simona Aebersold
 Norway
Marianne Andersen
Marie Olaussen
Andrine Benjaminsen

Medal table

Women's orienteering. Does not include mixed events. Updated following the 2024 World Orienteering Championships.

RankNationGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1 Sweden463732115
2 Switzerland29132264
3 Finland18212059
4 Norway11261956
5 Denmark77317
6 Russia (1993–present)371020
7 Hungary3115
8 Great Britain2338
9 Czech Republic (1993–present)2248
10 Czechoslovakia (1966–91)14611
11 Austria1102
12 Australia1001
13 Ukraine0101
14 Belarus0011
 France0011
 Germany0011
 Netherlands0011
 Soviet Union (1966–91)0011
Totals (18 entries)124123125372

Multiple medalists

Updated following the 2024 World Orienteering Championships.

Rank Athlete Country From To Gold Silver Bronze Total
1 Simone Niggli  Switzerland 2001 2013 23 2 6 31
2 Tove Alexandersson  Sweden 2011 2024 21 9 3 33
3 Minna Kauppi  Finland 2004 2013 9 5 3 17
4 Maja Alm  Denmark 2012 2021 7 7 3 17
5 Marita Skogum  Sweden 1983 1993 6 3 1 10
6 Annichen Kringstad  Sweden 1981 1985 6 - - 6
7 Judith Wyder  Switzerland 2011 2018 5 3 4 12
8 Helena Bergman  Sweden 2012 2018 4 6 8 18
9 Hanne Staff  Norway 1997 2004 4 4 4 12
10 Liisa Veijalainen  Finland 1972 1981 4 4 - 8

Best performers by country

Including mixed events. Updated to following the 2024 World Orienteering Championships

Country Athlete From To Gold Silver Bronze Total
 Switzerland Simone Niggli-Luder 2001 2013 23 2 6 31
 Sweden Tove Alexandersson 2011 2024 21 9 3 33
 Finland Minna Kauppi 2004 2013 9 5 3 17
 Denmark Maja Alm 2012 2021 7 7 3 17
 Norway Hanne Staff
(by the gold first ranking system)
1997 2004 4 4 4 12
Marianne Andersen
(by total number of medals)
2005 2023 1 9 5 15
 Russia Natalia Gemperle 2016 2021 2 4 5 11
 Czech Republic Dana Brožková 2006 2011 2 2 1 5
 Hungary Katalin Oláh
(by the gold first ranking system)
1991 1995 2 - - 2
Sarolta Monspart
(by total number of medals)
1970 1976 1 1 1 3
 United Kingdom Yvette Baker 1993 1999 1 2 1 4
 Czechoslovakia
 Czech Republic
Jana Cieslarová 1989 1995 1 1 3 5
 Czechoslovakia
(as such only)
Jana Cieslarová 1989 1991 1 1 1 3
 Austria Lucie Böhm* 1997 1999 1 1 - 2
 Australia Hanny Allston* 2006 2006 1 - - 1
 Ukraine Nadiya Volynska* 2015 2015 - 1 - 1
 Belarus Anastasia Denisova* 2016 2016 - - 1 1
 Germany Frauke Schmitt Gran* 1999 1999 - - 1 1
 France Isia Basset* 2018 2018 - - 1 1
 Netherlands Eef van Dongen* 2022 2022 - - 1 1
 Soviet Union Alīda Ābola* 1989 1989 - - 1 1

An asterisk (*) marks athletes who are the only representatives of their respective countries to win a medal.

References

  1. ^ "Results Archive at World of O Runners". runners.worldofo.com. World of O. Retrieved 8 February 2019.
  2. ^ "World Orienteering Championships Medals 1966-2014" (PDF). www.orienteering.org. International Orienteering Federation. Retrieved 8 February 2019.