There were no individual medals for the Swedish biathlon women during the Olympics in Italy.
But when Elvira Öberg returned to the World Cup tracks, nothing could stop her from taking her third World Cup victory of the season. The 27-year-old hit all 20 shots and had the best pace throughout the distance race.
“Absolutely crazy”
It was like it happened by itself today. It's crazy that I'm shooting four clean rounds and doing great. I had very good focus at the range. You have to take the opportunity to enjoy it, she says in SVT's broadcast.
The fact that things went better this time than during the Olympic competitions in Italy does not surprise Elvira Öberg.
More oxygen in the air here. Slightly colder temperature. Hard, nice trails. This is a place I really enjoy and it suits my skiing very well. Then it doesn't get any harder than this, she says.
Never before have Elvira and Hanna Öberg finished first and second respectively in a World Cup competition and for a long time it looked like it would be a sibling duel for the victory. Then Hanna missed a shot in the final shooting round, which meant that Elvira's victory was assured. In distance races, each missed shot means a one-minute time penalty instead of a penalty loop.
“Bombproof”
It was about time. It was a shame that she was ahead. No, she actually shot 20 out of 20, so she is a well-deserved winner, says Hanna Öberg and continues:
I felt as stable as ever. The prone series felt bombproof. It was a nice feeling.
Being able to show off great achievements after a less successful Olympics makes her happy.
It means a lot to both of us. Getting revenge after the individual races at the Olympics that perhaps weren't what we dreamed of, says Hanna Öberg.
Paulina Fialkova of Slovakia was third.
Anna Magnusson came sixth, Anna-Karin Heijdenberg was 13th, Linn Gestblom was 24th and Ella Halvarsson was 51st.
On Friday it's the men's turn to run a distance race in Kontiolax.
Corrected: In a text from March 5, the wrong placement was stated for Anna Magnusson. The correct one is sixth place.
