Olli Ojanaho (born February 25, 1997) is a Finnish orienteering competitor. He was born in Rovaniemi and started his youth career representing the club Ounasvaaran Hiihtoseura. As of 2017 Ojanaho lives in Helsinki[1] and represents Helsingin Suunnistajat.[1]

Olli Ojanaho
Ojanaho IN 2019
Personal information
Born (1997-02-25) 25 February 1997 (age 27)
Rovaniemi
Sport
SportOrienteering
ClubHelsingin Suunnistajat
Medal record
Men's orienteering
Representing  Finland
World Championships
Silver medal – second place 2023 Flims-Laax Relay
Bronze medal – third place 2023 Flims-Laax Relay
Junior World Championships
Gold medal – first place 2017 Tampere Sprint
Gold medal – first place 2017 Tampere Middle
Gold medal – first place 2017 Tampere Long
Gold medal – first place 2015 Rauland Long
Gold medal – first place 2015 Rauland Middle
Gold medal – first place 2015 Rauland Relay
Silver medal – second place 2017 Tampere Relay
Bronze medal – third place 2016 Engadin Relay
Bronze medal – third place 2014 Borovets Middle

Junior career

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Ojanaho made his debut at the Junior World Orienteering Championships (JWOC) in 2014 in Borovets, Bulgaria. At the age of 17, three years younger than his oldest competitors, he won a bronze medal at the middle distance. The following year, at the 2015 JWOC in Rauland, Norway, he won three gold medals after winning all three forest races: the long distance, the middle distance and the relay.

At the 2017 JWOC on home soil in Tampere, Ojanaho won all three individual races: the two individual forest races and the sprint.[2] This feat was matched the same year by Swiss runner Simona Aebersold.

He is the most decorated male orienteer ever at the junior level after having won six gold, one silver and two bronze medals at the JWOC.

Senior career

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Ojanaho debuted at the senior championship level in 2017 when he represented Finland at the 2017 World Orienteering Championships (WOC) in Tartu, Estonia. The senior WOC was scheduled just one week ahead of the JWOC as doubling of the events and hence a conflicting programme for the athletes is normally not an issue. Ojanaho finished 27th in the middle distance.[3] At WOC 2021 in Czech Republic his best position was a 4th place in relay.[4] At WOC 2023 in Switzerland he won a bronze medal at long distance[5] and a silver medal in the relay[6] together with Topi Syrjalainen and Miika Kirmula

World Championship results

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Year
Age Long Middle Sprint Relay Sprint
Relay
2017 20 27 -
2018 21 ill: did not compete
2021 24 11 26 - 4 -
2023 26 3 6 - 2 -

References

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  1. ^ a b "Olli Ojanaho will orienteer more than ever" (Retrieved on July 25, 2017)
  2. ^ "Tre VM-guld på tre försök" (Retrieved on July 25, 2017)
  3. ^ "WOC 2017 - Official results for middle distance" (Retrieved on July 25, 2017)
  4. ^ "Event information: Nokian Tyres World Orienteering Championships 2021". Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  5. ^ "Official results for World Orienteering Championships 2023 - Long". Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  6. ^ "Official results for World Orienteering Championships 2023 - Relay". Retrieved 30 July 2023.
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