The World Games 2025 were held from 7-11th August in Chengdu, China.
Australia had a strong team representing this year: Caitlin Young, Milla Key, Angus Haines, Alastair George and Ben Rattray (team leader).
They competed in the 12th edition of The World Games, alongside 5,000 athletes playing 34 sports from over 100 countries. This is the 7th Games that Orienteering is represented in The World Games. The IOF has together with IWGA and local organisers worked extensively on providing well-organised, exciting and fair competitions, 30 km south east of Chengdu city center.
7 August – Model Event & Opening Ceremony
In the model event, athletes had the opportunity to adapt to the Chinese terrain and get used to the weather, as the temperatures are well above 30 degrees and there is a towering humidity.
How amazing was the World Games 2025 opening ceremony! Vibrant fireworks in the outline of trees, dancing panda mascots and choreographed light shows were a truly spectacular way to start the World Games. It was a wonderful event for our Aussie athletes to witness and be part of.
Photos from the model event by IOF / Klement Kelén can be found here: OA Facebook
8 August – Middle Distance
The middle distance race had a planned winning time of about 30 minutes, and the competition takes place in the area surrounding Gaoming Town. In the individual disciplines, athletes start individually at equal time intervals.
Course information:
Men 6.0km, 180m climb, 20 controls
Women 5.1km, 130m climb, 20 controls
Official results:
12th Alastair George +10:54
15th Milla Key +14:56
19th Laura Robertson (NZ) +18:23
21st Caitlin Young +19:50
DSQ Angus Haines
Photos of the middle distance by IOF / Klement Kelén can be found here: OA Facebook & OA Facebook
10 August – Sprint Distance
For the sprint, athletes ran through courses set in urban and park areas with expected winning times around 15 minutes.
Course information:
Men 3.5km, 65m climb, 22 controls
Women 3.3km, 60m climb, 19 controls
Official results:
9th Tim Robertson (NZ) 15:46 +0:47
11th Joseph Lynch (NZ) 15:49 +0:50
15th Milla Key 18:18 +3:18
16th Caitlin Young 18:20 +3:20
24th Alastair George 17:36 +2:37
25th Angus Haines 17:45 +2:46
Photos of the sprint distance by IOF / Erling Thisted can be found here: OA Facebook
11 August – Sprint Relay
For the sprint relay, all teams will compete with four athletes per team including at least two women. There was a mass start for the first-leg runners. Each sprint relay leg had a planned winning time of about 14-14.5 minutes.
Course information:
Leg 1 & 4: 3.3km, 60m climb, 20 controls
Leg 2 & 3: 3.5km, 80m climb, 20 controls
Our Aussie lineup for the sprint relay:
Leg 1 – Milla Key
Leg 2 – Angus Haines
Leg 3 – Alastair George
Leg 4 – Caitlin Young
Photo taken by Ben Rattray.
Official results:
6. Australia 1:01:57
The Australian team had a fantastic showing in today’s sprint relay, finishing in 6th place! A wonderful team effort! With a total team run time of 1:01:57, our Aussies finished only 3 seconds behind the Kiwis in 5th. What a great Oceania result to finish off the 2025 World Games.
Orienteering Australia would like to acknowledge how important it is to recognise our team officials. We would very much like to thank Ben Rattray for his time and experience in leading our World Games team.
The team also participated in the coaches race, a very fun part of the week where the athletes get to ‘support’ their team leaders!
Photos of the sprint relay and coaches race by IOF / Klement Kelén and Milla Key can be found here: OA Facebook & OA Facebook
