TRAILO.IT - http://portugueseorienteeringblog.blogspot.it: FRUZSINA BIRO'
Returning after one (always) short summer break, the
Portuguese Orienteering Blog comes again to the subject
of Trail Orienteering and to the interviews carried out
during the WTOC 2012, in Scotland. Our invited today is
Fruzsina Biró, a 38 year old hungarian, Psychologist,
who lives in Nagykovácsi. Started in Trail-O in 2007,
she took her best result in Trondheim, at the WTOC 2010,
with a 5th position in the
Paralympic Class. Last year, in France, she was 6th
place in the Open Class but this year the
results weren't exactly what she expected. This and many
more to read right now.
How did you start in TrailO and why?
Fruzsina Biró (F. B.) - My family is one of the
most well-known orienteering families in Hungary (there
are some World Championship places and many national
championships), so I started in Foot Orienteering early,
when I was 4 years old. Orienteering is just a hobby for
me, but an important hobby. Unfortunately six years ago
I became ill (joint disease) and I had to stop running.
In those years, some trailO events began to be organized
in Hungary (thanks to Julia Grant and László Nemesházi)
and I tried it… TrailO is a good game for me, maybe a
little bit more than a hobby. For some years, it was the
only sporting facilities and connection with the
orienteering for me. I'm very lucky because I could
start running again last year, but TrailO is still my
favourite.
During these years, what are your best memories? And the
worst?
F. B. - My most beautiful memory is my first
mistake-free competition in Trondheim on the first day
of WTOC 2010 (and then the 5th place). There
were good moments with the Hungarian team. And the WTOC
2009 in Hungary was very exciting because in the first
day of competition was my pregnancy due date and in the
morning of the 2nd day my daughter was born.
What did you feel about WTOC 2012?
F. B. – We were a four members team and it was
very good for me, because I often must compete as the
only Hungarian. The most fantastic thing that we saw
here in Scotland, was the behaviour about handicapped
people (for example the public transport in Dundee).
Organisers were very kind and helpful.
And the courses?
F. B. – The courses were very difficult for me
and specially for the beginners of the Hungarian team. I
had never been in Great Britain for a TrailO event, so
all of this, the terrains and the courses, were very
strange for me. But I must say I enjoyed the courses a
lot. Sometimes I had problems with the map, mainly on
the first day, but usually I am looking for the reasons
myself. I spent all the time we had, I concentrated a
lot but I wasn't good enough in this competition. I'm a
little bit sad with my results, I have to do more
exercise (laughs). I did not like the Model Event
because it was not similar or useful enough for the
competitions.
Trail-O or TempO?
F. B. - I love TempO although I'm not fast
enough. I think TempO is the key for the integration of
new members - especially young people - into this sport.
How is TrailO doing in Hungary?
F. B. – TrailO in Hungary is on a turning point.
We've organized the WTOC in 2009, but the first members
who organized this big event are retired and they're no
longer with us. Now we try to start again or continue,
we try to involve some other people, many people... we
try! We have a little group of paralympic competitors, a
little more orienteers and about ten events per year.
There were 70 participants on the TrailO Championship
this year - I think we are on the right track.
How can we do that? Finding people from Foot
Orienteering?
F. B. – Yes, also from Foot Orienteering. But I
think that the important thing in Trail Orienteering is
the handicapped people. We have many participants from
Foot Orienteering, but we have another new group from an
Institute that works with handicapped people. Our main
problem is the situation of disabled people: sport is
not an important thing for them because they have many
financial, work and medical problems.
We'll have ETOC 2014 in Portugal – I should say that
you've participated this year in the Portugal O'
Meeting's TrailO course – and perhaps you can tell me
what you expect from our event?
F. B. - Orienteering and nice weather instead
of hungarian winter - that was a good combination, I
loved it. The TrailO course was great too, although I
was not tuned (I wrote about it on my blog:
http://www.tajbingo.blogspot.hu/2012/04/pom-trailo-en.html).
My plan includes the ETOC 2014 in Portugal…
For how long are we going to see you doing Trail-O?
F. B. - I don't know; maybe I will stop it if I
win a WTOC gold medal (laughs).
Joaquim Margarido
