A new world for Maja

A new world for Maja

For Maja Alm it has been a new kind of day for the last few months, but now a lot of it is the same as earlier, even though there is a big change in the Danish team.

Last August Maja became the queen of the World Orienteering Championships in Scotland with a fine victory on the Sprint and golds in both relays.

Because of her three gold medals she became a big sports star in Denmark, and life has changed. She has been a candidate for big sports prizes and has become very visible in the media. “For some months there was far more interest from the media than earlier. It is of course fun and takes time and energy. So it’s also good that there’s not so much media interest now. I can concentrate fully on the sport”, Maja tells.

Her training has been good, but she has also had to be a bit careful about an inflammation in the bone membrane.

Photo: Erik Borg

The plan for the year

She was number two in the first World Cup sprint race this season, eight seconds behind winner Judith Wyder. “It was a good start and race, but I made some mistakes. I lost 8 seconds on one control and 15 seconds on another. One of the not-so-good leg times was due to a not-so-good route choice”.

In WOC in Strömstad the plan is to go for the same as last year – the sprints, the forest relay and the Middle distance. But first up is the European Championships.

The missing girl

Emma Klingenberg also had great success at WOC last year, running some superb relay legs. She got two golds. Later in the autumn she had a dramatic crash on her bike. She was lucky not to get more badly injured. She went back to training after some weeks of recovery, but is not present in Poland. She decided to stop her athletic career some weeks ago; her motivation had gone.

“Emma’s missing. It’s sad without her, but I understand her decision when she feels like she does. This also gives opportunities for other girls in the Danish team. They can grow on that”.

– How is your motivation?

– Oh, I have no doubts about my career. I am going on. Ida is also doing the same”, Maja smiles. Ida Bobach also won two gold medals at WOC in Scotland last August.