France Leads Medal Table at FISU World University Championship Orienteering in Vila Real

The 2026 FISU World University Championship Orienteering has successfully concluded in Vila Real, Portugal, following five days of exciting competition that brought together some of the world’s finest university orienteers.

Hosted by FADU Portugal, in partnership with the Municipality of Vila Real and the University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), the championship delivered outstanding performances across the Knock-Out Sprint, Mixed Sprint Relay and Sprint Distance events, while celebrating the values of excellence, friendship and international cooperation that define university sport.

France emerged as the dominant nation of the championship, topping the medal table with seven medals—three gold, one silver and three bronze—thanks to a series of consistent performances throughout the competition.

The men’s Knock-Out Sprint title went to Guilhem Verove (France), who finished ahead of Cornelius Bjørk (Norway) and Pascal Schärer (Switzerland). In the women’s race, Cécile Calandry (France) claimed the gold medal, followed by Eleonora Alinder (Sweden) in second place and Anniina Taipale (Finland) in third.

France also celebrated victory in the Mixed Sprint Relay, taking gold ahead of Hungary, while France’s second team secured the bronze medal.

The Sprint Distance races crowned two new university champions. Francesco Mariani (Italy) won the men’s event, with Linus Wernström (Sweden) earning silver and Guilhem Verove (France) adding bronze to his Knock-Out Sprint title. In the women’s competition, Klara Borg (Sweden) captured the gold medal ahead of Cécile Calandry (France), who secured her second medal of the championship, while Annabelle Delenne (France) completed the podium in third place.

The final medal standings reflected the strength of the French delegation, with Sweden finishing second thanks to one gold and two silver medals, while Italy placed third after Francesco Mariani’s Sprint Distance victory. Hungary and Norway each concluded the championship with a silver medal, while Finland and Switzerland each claimed a bronze.

Beyond the results, the championship showcased the technical excellence, resilience and competitive spirit of student-athletes competing across the urban terrain of Vila Real. Throughout the week, the city provided an outstanding setting for world-class university orienteering, welcoming delegations from across the globe in an atmosphere of fair play and cultural exchange.

The successful delivery of the FISU World University Championship Orienteering further reinforces FISU’s confidence in FADU Portugal’s organisational expertise and marks another significant milestone for Portuguese university sport on the international stage. As the championship comes to a close, Vila Real leaves a lasting legacy of sporting excellence, international collaboration and unforgettable experiences for athletes, officials and volunteers alike.