Discussion: Simone Luder -- Best Female Orienteer Ever?
in: Orienteering; General
Aug 9, 2003 8:41 PM
#
It's hard to compare across eras; Annichen Kringstad was pretty dominant in her day, when there was just a Classic and a Relay championship, but could she have done what Simone did this week? Simone Luder of Switzerland won every race she ran, and she ran them all. Check it out: 1st in the Long Qualifier #3; 1st in the Sprint; 1st in the Long final; 1st in the Middle Q #1; 1st in the Middle final; 1st in the Relay along with her Swiss teammates, with the fastest leg time. Very impressive. AND, she's getting married in a couple weeks -- obviously that has not distracted her.
Aug 10, 2003 5:20 PM
#
As you guys might guess, the discussion of Simone's dominance has been quite widespread here at WOC as we get to watch her kick butt day after day. Just seeing her do it, seemingly with ease, makes me believe that there has never been an orienteer as dominant as Simone is right now. In fact, I think that it's rare to find domination like that by any athlete in any sport at this day and age. She is smply amazing (or Super Sime, as the Swiss call her) !!!!
Aug 11, 2003 12:54 AM
#
I'd say Simone Luder is on her way to being the best ever. Annichen is still tough to beat as "best ever"
By the time Annichen was 25, she'd run in four different WOCs and run seven races (she didn't run the relay in 1979). She'd won six gold medals in those seven races. Annichen's worst result was 9th in 1979.
Simone turned 25 this year. She's run in three WOCs and run nine races. She's won five gold medals and a bronze. Simone's worst result was 15th in the middle distance race in her first WOC.
Annichen's most dominant WOC was in 1983. She won gold in the relay and won the individual race by 7:33.
Simone's most domininat WOC is, obviously, this year. She won four golds with margins in the individual races of 3:05, 0:17, and 0:10.
It isn't easy to compare results across time because the WOC has changed so much as they've added the middle and sprint races.
Not taking anything away from Simone, but it looks to me like Annichen has a very slight edge.
Annichen retired when she was 35. Let's hope Simone sticks around for another few years. If she does, she'll probably be the best ever.
By the time Annichen was 25, she'd run in four different WOCs and run seven races (she didn't run the relay in 1979). She'd won six gold medals in those seven races. Annichen's worst result was 9th in 1979.
Simone turned 25 this year. She's run in three WOCs and run nine races. She's won five gold medals and a bronze. Simone's worst result was 15th in the middle distance race in her first WOC.
Annichen's most dominant WOC was in 1983. She won gold in the relay and won the individual race by 7:33.
Simone's most domininat WOC is, obviously, this year. She won four golds with margins in the individual races of 3:05, 0:17, and 0:10.
It isn't easy to compare results across time because the WOC has changed so much as they've added the middle and sprint races.
Not taking anything away from Simone, but it looks to me like Annichen has a very slight edge.
Annichen retired when she was 35. Let's hope Simone sticks around for another few years. If she does, she'll probably be the best ever.
Aug 11, 2003 12:58 AM
#
"Annichen retired when she was 35."
Whoops, that's a mistake. Annichen retired when she was 25.
Whoops, that's a mistake. Annichen retired when she was 25.
Aug 11, 2003 4:56 AM
#
Also, Annichen won her medals in very different terrains. But if Simone captures a few medals at next years worlds in Sweden...
This discussion thread is closed.