Before this season, Anna Magnusson had only been on the podium in the World Cup twice in individual races. This winter, the 30-year-old has been on the podium in four out of five races, twice second and twice third in the sprint and pursuit races.
The explanation for the transformation:
I feel calm and relaxed. And I've been healthy and whole all year, I think that's definitely a contributing factor, she says during a digital press conference.
And I've tried to have fun and enjoy being in other places.
Only four bars
It is above all the shooting that has been much better at the beginning of this season, compared to previous (entire) seasons. She has only missed four out of 80 shots.
I would say that in the past I focused a lot on shooting faster. This year I focused more on hits. And then I changed the scope (on the rifle). Those are the two changes.
The fact that she made it onto the podium in the second race of the season, second in the sprint in Östersund, meant a lot.
It was very important. I thought a lot before the season that it had felt good but that I didn't want to run away with goals but tried to keep my cool and not want too much, which is otherwise quite easy in biathlon. Just trust that it will come. When there was a podium so early, I think it made me even more relaxed.
“That's awesome”
When Anna Magnusson and the same age Hanna Öberg grew up in Piteå, Magnusson was the best. She also got to race in the World Cup a season earlier than Öberg. But it was Öberg who broke through on the world level the fastest, with an individual Olympic gold in 2018.
Magnusson had to wait until his eleventh season, when he turned 30, for his big breakthrough.
It's awesome. To be at the top when you're 30 and still be able to develop. It's fun to show both myself and others.
After the sprint in Hochfilzen just under a week ago, when she came third, she moved up to the lead in the World Cup. And then enjoyed wearing the yellow leader's vest before the pursuit start.
It was still a nice moment. But then I just wanted to focus on the trip.
On Tuesday, she became Olympic-ready and thus won't have to chase the ticket until the end of January.
It's really nice to have that ticket now. It's definitely a relief.
Ingela Ahlberg/TT
Facts: Anna Magnusson
TT
Born: March 31, 1995.
Started biathlon: 2010.
Debut: In the 2015 World Cup, in the 2015–2016 World Cup.
Merits: Olympics: silver in relay 2018. World Championships: silver in relay 2019, 2024, bronze in relay 2023 and 2025. World Cup: One individual victory (sprint in Annecy 2022), two second places, three third places.
