Viktor Brandt was part of the Swedish team that took the World Championship gold last year. He is optimistic ahead of Saturday's World Championship relay, despite the fact that the shooting has been poor for the men's team all season – the World Championship in Switzerland is no exception.
In Wednesday's distance race, the four Swedes accounted for 19 misses in total.
You can't draw too many conclusions from that ahead of the relay. We've shot poorly in many competitions this winter, right before the relays, and then we've been on the podium, says Brandt.
The fact is that the Swedes have been on the podium in all four World Cup relays this winter – third, third, second and third.
We're often better in relays than individually, so it looks promising, says Jesper Nelin.
The optimism is due partly to previous relay results this winter, partly to the reserve shots they have in the relay.
It's a security, absolutely, says Nelin.
95 percent mental
Martin Ponsiluoma is the Swedish top athlete who has had the most problems with shooting this winter. He thinks that the reserve shots can become a stress in themselves.
At the same time, you have a few extra shots, so it's a bit safer, he says.
Shooting coach Jean-Marc Chabloz explains the Swedes' poor shooting this winter with psychology.
Mental factors play a big role, maybe 95 percent in shooting. The most important thing for everyone is self-confidence. If it goes badly in a competition, it's hard to regain self-confidence.
You need to get a competition where it really clicks to 100 percent, that's a trigger and helps with self-confidence, says Chabloz.
"Frustrating"
He says it's "indescribably frustrating" for him and the other shooting coach Johan Hagström with the Swedes' shooting misses.
Because we know what those guys can do. And we have a women's team that's top of the hit percentage at the World Championship, is the best women's team. And we train together. So it's extremely frustrating for us shooting coaches when we know they can do better than that, says Chabloz.
The shooting coach is not worried ahead of the relay, however.
They've done good relays so far and we have the extra shots, and we're fast on that, says he.
Saturday, February 22
Women, 4x6 km (12.05)
Men, 4x7.5 km (15.05)
Women's team: Anna Magnusson, Ella Halvarsson, Hanna Öberg, Elvira Öberg.
Men's team: Viktor Brandt, Jesper Nelin, Martin Ponsiluoma, Sebastian Samuelsson.
