Chengdu, Aug. 8 -- Switzerland's Riccardo Rancan won the first gold medal of The World Games 2025 today, finishing the men's middle distance orienteering event in 45 minutes and 22 seconds.
With traditional powerhouse Norway absent from the Games, the Swiss team entered as a favorite in the discipline.
Rancan, 29, is a semi-professional athlete who also works part-time as a robotics engineer. The Swiss team began its selection process for the Games earlier this year, and Rancan learned six months ago that he had a chance to travel to China.
"The contact from China told me that it'd be very hot in Chengdu in the summer, so I did a lot of preparation," said Rancan.
"I came here three days ago. I needed to acclimate quickly with hot an...