Overall Orienteering World Cup champions Matthias Kyburz and Tove Alexandersson in Grindelwald ©IOF

Home athlete Matthias Kyburz and Tove Alexandersson of Sweden each earned a fourth International Orienteering Federation World Cup title as they won their respective middle distance races at today’s final in the Swiss Alpine resort of Grindelwald.

The 27-year-old Kyburz had put himself on the brink of an overall win having finished first in the previous day’s long distance event to extend his lead to 70 points.

Another victory made double sure, and he was followed home over the 8.5 kilometres race by compatriot Daniel Hubmann, who took third place overall behind Sweden’s Emil Svensk.

Home athlete Matthias Kyburz comes home to win the middle distance event and overall title at the International Orienteering Federation World Cup final in Grindelwald ©IOF
Home athlete Matthias Kyburz comes home to win the middle distance event and overall title at the International Orienteering Federation World Cup final in Grindelwald ©IOF

The 25-year-old Alexandersson had left herself with more to do after a 14th placing in the long distance race had cut her overall lead from 62 to 29 points, but she responded like a champion to restore her pre-eminence, clocking 35min 09sec over the 7km course

Switzerland’s Elena Roos, who surprised observers by claiming her first World Cup win in the long distance race, took second place behind the Swede today to finish sixth overall.

Russia’s Natalia Gemperle, who lives in Switzerland, was third on the day and second overall ahead of Switzerland’s Sabine Hauswirth.