Runner presentation Daniel Hubmann
November 28, 2009 by Anatolijs Tarasovs
You have to think it through before you fully realize it. The list of his achievements is simply breathtaking. Daniel Hubmann is probably the most versatile male-orienteer in the history of our sport. Whether it is a fast sprint, a tough long distance or a technical middle distance, he is always among the best. He doesn’t take exceptions, he runs it all. And runs incredibly well. This year his performance resulted into 12 major victories – from Tiomila and the Nordic Championships up to the overall World Cup and the World Championships.
He started the year with the second Tiomila victory (map) in a row with his Norwegian club Kristiansand OK. Two Nordic Champion’s titles (long distance map, sprint map) followed in the early June and a week later he won a thrilling head-to-head battle on the last leg of Jukola (map) with such orienteering giants as Emil Wingstedt and Thierry Gueorgiou. Then he slowed down a bit and took ‘only’ 6th and 8th places at the World Cup in Norway, but only to speed up again a few weeks later and win a silver (map) and a gold (map) at the World Games in Taiwan.
Then the World Championships followed. The same amazing Daniel Hubmann was also in Hungary, where he managed to defend his long distance title (map), as well as take a medal from each of the three other disciplines; or in other words he did what no other male orienteer has ever done before. In September it was time for the Military World Champinships in Estonia and the World Cup final, and there he just won it all, taking 5 victories out of 5 races (see the maps from these races on his website). And of course, he won the overall World Cup and throughout the whole season he has been the number one in the World ranking. What a year…
Nominated for
Being the first male orienteer, who wins medals in all 4 disciplines in one World Championships, 2 of them gold. Also: winning the overall World Cup. Winning sprint and long at the Nordic Championships. Winning the World Games middle distance and taking silver in the sprint. Winning 3 gold medals at the Military World Championships. Winning both World Cup final races. Winning Tiomila and Jukola with Kristiansand OK.
Who needs a transition time?
Definitely not Daniel Hubmann. For most orienteers it takes time to adapt and prepare for the World class orienteering, when they grow out of juniors, even if they were the best. For Daniel it was a very short time, if there was any time at all. Twice he won the Junior World Championships and his last one he ran in 2003. One year later he was twice 9th at the WOC in Sweden and at the World Cup in Germany he got 3 silver medals. Two years later he already had a silver and a bronze from the World Championships in Japan. There he also surprised the whole orienteering World when he sprinted past Emil Wingstedt in the run-in to bring the bronze (map) to Switzerland. In 2005, at the age of 22, he finished the year with the overall World Cup bronze.
Still missing a title
He has won every major title, except for one – the title of the European champion. With 4 Eurpean championships’ silvers in his pocket he has a good chance for the gold in the nearest future. At the side of the World Championships he is still missing middle and sprint gold. However, after 9 years break the World Championships will be back to Switzerland again in 2012, and there he might as well do what only his teammate Simone Niggli has ever done before.
Event sponsor: Nordvestgaloppen
Nordvestgaloppen is a popular event in Western Norway. The event is known for its mix of interesting orienteering in wonderful nature between fjords and mountains. Nordvestgaloppen 2010 is organized from July 14th until July 18th.
- Among the Lucky voters, 2 transferable starts for the complete Nordvestgaloppen 2010 will be drawn.
- Visit Nordvestgaloppen website for more information about the event
