This weekend, Sweden will premiere in biathlon in Idre. Then, the Swedish national team athletes will get their first receipt on whether the preseason's toil has yielded results.
Sebastian Samuelsson's goal with summer and autumn training has been to improve his shooting.
Before last season, I put a lot of effort into shooting faster. I thought it worked very well, but I see that the hit rate needs to improve – that's what I've been lacking to be able to compete at the very highest level over a longer period. I've been a bit too inconsistent in the number of hits, he says.
He says that there haven't been any major differences in shooting training compared to previous years – he has reviewed video to see what he does in shooting, he has shot with laser tools to see movements with the rifle and worked consistently with shooting technique.
It's about having a thought with each pass. And shooting a lot, he says.
"Better than ever"
Samuelsson's shooting percentage was 86.36% in prone and 81.16% in standing last season. His shooting coach Johan Hagström says that it's the standing shooting that Samuelsson primarily needs to get right and that's what he's worked most with.
It's better, but he needs to continue to make it even better, says Hagström.
A lot has happened for Sebbe this year, he's become a father, and it went up and down in the beginning. But now I'd say that he's better than ever in training.
Norway to be challenged
Norway took a grand slam in the World Cup last season, with the top five places in the total. Samuelsson finished ninth.
There's nothing to suggest that the Norwegians will be worse this coming winter, their internal competition in the team keeps them on their toes.
I think there are six-seven guys who will be very skilled. I hope that we others step up a bit and can challenge them more than last year, that would be good, says Samuelsson.
The World Cup starts in Finnish Kontiolahti on November 30-December 8. This year's biggest individual goal is the World Championship in Lenzerheide in February.
It's the highlight. Then I want to make as good a season as possible, says Samuelsson.
Born: March 28, 1997, in Katrineholm.
Lives: Östersund.
Family: Partner Linnéa Karlsson and daughter Elsa, born in May 2024.
Club: I21 IF.
Main merits:
Gold: Relay in the Olympic Games 2018, mass start in the World Championship 2023, and relay in the World Championship 2024.
Silver: Pursuit in the Olympic Games 2018, pursuit in the World Championship 2021, relay in the World Championship 2021.
Bronze: Single mixed relay in the World Championship 2019, mixed relay in the World Championship 2021 and 2024, single mixed relay in the World Championship 2021, pursuit in the World Championship 2023, distance in the World Championship 2023.
Five individual victories in the World Cup and an additional 13 podium places.
