Austrian mountain running legend Andrea Mayr secured the gold medal in the women's Vertical Race at the 2023 World Mountain and Trail Running Championships (WMTRC) in Innsbruck-Stubai. The 44-year-old doctor and full-time athlete crossed the finish line at the Elfer summit in 37 minutes and 42 seconds, adding yet another world championship title to her extraordinary career palmares.
The Vertical Race course at the Elfer in the Stubai Valley presented a brutal challenge: 5 kilometres of distance with 1,000 metres of pure vertical gain. Starting near the base of the Elferlifte in Neustift, the route climbed relentlessly through alpine meadows and rocky terrain to the summit station at over 2,000 metres altitude. The gradient averaged 20 percent, with steeper pitches exceeding 35 percent on the upper sections.
Mayr's tactical approach was evident from the gun. While several younger competitors surged at the start, the Austrian settled into a measured rhythm through the lower sections, conserving energy for the steepest pitches where her decades of experience in vertical racing paid dividends. By the halfway point she had moved into the lead, and from there she steadily extended her advantage over the chasing pack.
Uganda's Stella Chesang earned the silver medal in a remarkable performance that showcased the growing global reach of mountain running. Chesang, primarily known as a track and road runner, adapted impressively to the extreme gradient and altitude. Italy's Camilla Magliano rounded out the podium with bronze, representing the strong European tradition in uphill-only racing disciplines.
For Mayr, the victory represented something deeply personal. Competing in her home country of Austria, in front of enthusiastic spectators lining the course in the Stubai Valley, she demonstrated that age is no barrier to elite performance. As a practising emergency physician who balances her medical career with world-class athletics, Mayr has long been an inspiration to runners who juggle sport with demanding professions.
The women's Vertical Race was one of five disciplines contested at the historic WMTRC 2023, the first-ever combined World Mountain and Trail Running Championships. Alongside the Vertical, athletes competed in the Mountain Classic, Trail Short, Trail Long and Stubai Ultratrail across the stunning terrain of the Innsbruck and Stubai regions.
Mayr's gold added to Austria's strong medal haul on home soil and confirmed her status as one of the greatest vertical and mountain runners in the history of the sport. Her ability to peak at a major championship at the age of 44 sent a powerful message about longevity, dedication and the enduring rewards of consistent training over decades.
Full results from the women's Vertical Race and all other WMTRC 2023 disciplines are available on the results page. For profiles of other competing athletes, visit the athletes overview.
Andrea Mayr completed the women's Vertical Race in 37 minutes and 42 seconds, winning the gold medal at the Elfer summit in the Stubai Valley. The course covered 5 km with 1,000 m of elevation gain.
Stella Chesang from Uganda won the silver medal and Camilla Magliano from Italy took the bronze. The podium reflected the increasingly international nature of competitive mountain running at world championship level.
Andrea Mayr was 44 years old at the time of her victory, making her one of the oldest gold medallists in the history of world mountain running championships. She is also a practising emergency physician in Austria.
The Vertical Race at the Elfer in the Stubai Valley covered 5 km with exactly 1,000 metres of elevation gain. The route started near the Elferlifte base station in Neustift and climbed to the summit station at over 2,000 m altitude. Detailed course information is available on the courses page.
The Vertical Race was held at the Elfer mountain in the Stubai Valley, Tyrol, Austria. The Elfer is a prominent peak above the village of Neustift and provided a spectacular setting with panoramic views of the surrounding Alpine peaks.