Sweden’s Tove Alexandersson has been named the International Orienteering Federation’s athlete of the year for 2016 ©Stina Loman/Skogssport

Sweden’s Tove Alexandersson has been named as the International Orienteering Federation’s (IOF) athlete of the year for 2016 in recognition of her maiden gold medal-winning performances at world and European level.

Alexandersson won both the long distance and middle distance crowns at the World Championships on home soil in Strömstad in August.

It came four months after achieving the same feat at the European Championships in Czech town Jeseník.

"Standing at the starting line at the EOC (European Orienteering Championships) long distance, I felt stronger than I had for many years," said the 24-year-old.

"I was fresh and injury free.

"I had a fantastic feeling and it was amazing to win."

Tove Alexandersson was crowned double world and European champion this year ©Stina Loman/Skogssport
Tove Alexandersson was crowned double world and European champion this year ©Stina Loman/Skogssport

Alexandersson also won the overall Ski Orienteering World Cup, finishing 20 points ahead of Russia’s Mariya Kechkina, and claimed two golds in a five-medal haul at the European Ski Orienteering Championships in Obertilliach in Austria.

Top honours came in the sprint and relay, while there was silver for the Swede in the middle distance and bronzes in the long distance and sprint relay.

The 2017 World Orienteering Championships are due to take place from June 30 to July 7 in Estonian city Tartu, where Alexandersson will aim to defend her two crowns.

Prior to that, she will be focusing on the 2017 European Ski Orienteering Championships in Finnish town Imatra, from February 7 to 12, and the 2017 World Ski Orienteering Championships in Russian city Krasnoyarsk, from March 6 to 12.