The World Games Chengdu China
I would like to thank the John Taylor Foundation for supporting my trip to the World Games in Chengdu, China this summer. Their generosity helped to make this experience possible by easing the cost of travel, and I am very grateful to have had the chance to represent Great Britain on such a stage.
The World Games is often described as the Olympics for smaller sports, bringing together everything from tug of war to squash and of course orienteering! The World Games is a key focus for many countries, which makes the standard of racing extremely competitive. It was inspiring to be part of an event of this scale, with an Olympic style opening ceremony where I got to see one of the most incredible fireworks displays of my life and the amazing atmosphere of the athlete village.
The orienteering programme included three races: a middle distance, a sprint, and a sprint relay. The middle was particularly tough, held in intense heat and humidity through orange groves and small farmhouses, very different to anything I’d raced in before! The sprint race was a real highlight, it took place around spectacular ornamental gardens and temples, with twisting paths, detailed courtyards and beautiful views. The intricate terrain made for exciting orienteering with plenty of route choices, and it was an incredible experience to compete in such a memorable setting. The sprint relay wrapped up the programme with fast-paced head-to-head racing, which was both challenging and great fun.
Although I came down ill before the competition and wasn’t able to race quite as well as I had hoped, alongside the challenge of the intense heat (35° and 90% humidity is not something Scotland prepares you for!) the whole experience was still hugely rewarding. As this was my first time racing outside of Europe, it felt especially eye-opening. Competing in such unusual terrains, adapting to new conditions, and sharing the stage with the best athletes in the world has really inspired me to go even further with my orienteering career.
Very sadly, the week was overshadowed by the loss of Italian athlete Mattia Debertolis, who collapsed during the middle-distance race and passed away afterwards. My thoughts are with his family, friends, and teammates.
I am hugely thankful to the John Taylor Foundation for making this trip possible. The chance to take part in the World Games, explore unique competition areas, and represent Great Britain on the world stage is something I will never forget.
