Gueorgiou ran a near-perfect race on his way to posting an unrivalled time of 33 min 12sec.

He beat nearest challenger Fabian Hertner of Switzerland by 25 seconds, while Ukraine’s Oleksandr Kratov was a further five seconds behind in the bronze medal position.

"This is a dream come true," Gueorgiou said.

"I wanted to finish on top."

Victory for Gueorgiou secured him his 14^th World Orienteering Championships gold medal overall.

His last success in the middle-distance event came in 2011.

"It is difficult to compare the medals and I have won many medals in middle - it is my favourite distance," Gueorgiou said.

"This medal is very special and of course when you become a world champion for the first time it is a life changer.

"My plan was to stay focused for the whole race, but also to smile and enjoy the moment."

Sweden’s Tove Alexandersson prevailed in today’s women’s middle-distance race to secure her second gold medal in three days.

Her time of 32:34 meant she successfully defended the title she won in front of a home crowd in Strömstad last year.

"I was running the shortest way and trying to be focused all the way reading the details," Alexandersson said.

"It was almost a clean race.

"I had good focus all the way and didn't make any mistakes at the controls."

Norway’s Marianne Andersen was the silver medallist in 34:44, while Finland’s Venla Harju held off Russia’s Svetlana Mironova for bronze in 36:44.

Action in Tartu is due to conclude tomorrow with the relay races.