Representing New Zealand, Year 11 student Xavier White produced the country's highest-performing result at the 2026 European Youth Orienteering Championships.

Congratulations to Year 11 student Xavier White, who proudly represented New Zealand at the 2026 European Youth Orienteering Championships in Nova Gorica, Slovenia. The championships brought together around 440 athletes from 34 countries, with Xavier selected as one of four New Zealand Under-16 boys to compete. Over three demanding days, athletes raced in temperatures exceeding 35°C across technically challenging urban and forest terrain against some of the world's best young orienteers.

Competing against 106 of the world's top Under-16 athletes, Xavier finished 70th in the sprint race before helping New Zealand place 16th in the relay. His standout performance came in the long-distance event, where he placed 21st on a demanding 5.5km forest course featuring 330 metres of climbing. This was New Zealand's highest result at this year's championships and the best-ever men's result by a New Zealand athlete in the EYOC long-distance race. Following the championships, Xavier continued to build his international experience by training and competing on a range of forest, alpine and village terrains in both Slovenia and Italy.

Xavier now turns his attention to the New Zealand Secondary Schools Orienteering Championships in Christchurch during the July holidays. He has also been selected for the New Zealand Secondary Schools Southern Cross Team, which will compete at the Oceania Orienteering Championships and the Australia–New Zealand Schools Orienteering Championships later this year.

Congratulations, Xavier, on your outstanding achievement representing New Zealand. We wish you every success for the remainder of the season.