Öberg's luxury problem: "Double focus"

It was both criticism and praise for Elvira Öberg in last week's competitions in German Oberhof. A humble 36th place in the sprint was followed up by a third place after an incredible comeback in the pursuit and also a decisive final stretch when Sweden won the mixed relay.

A rollercoaster weekend that has strengthened the 25-year-old.

To know that I can make those turns means a lot. I don't think I'll just do good races for the rest of my career either, but it's really valuable experiences that are worth a lot to take with me, she says and continues:

And I feel now, after the weekend, that my self-confidence is much better than it was before Oberhof.

"Means a lot"

The upswing means not only that Öberg enters this week's competitions in German Ruhpolding with strong self-confidence, but also that she is third in the total World Cup – and has a good chance of winning the "total" for the first time.

I think I'm actually a better biathlete now than I've been in previous years. So I have all the opportunities and all the prerequisites, so it feels very exciting to be in the fight.

"I bring it with me every time"

But Öberg has, after her fine season, acquired a luxury problem.

At the same time as she is forced to go full speed in the upcoming World Cup competitions to continue to hang on to the top, she needs to keep an eye on the World Championship in Swiss Lenzerheide, which starts on February 12.

It's like having a double focus. But I want to do a good competition every time, regardless of whether I'm in the total or not. Every time I stand on the starting line, I want to do a good performance, but then it's clear that you have it (World Championship) with you every time too, she says.

Regardless of whether it's a championship in a month or not, I'll try to maintain some training because that's what my body needs. It hopefully also means that the recovery works better and that you don't need to get as tired.

1. Franziska Preuss, Germany, 599 points.

2. Lou Jeanmonnot, France, 483.

3. Elvira Öberg, Sweden, 440.

4. Julia Simon, France, 375.

5. Suvi Minkkinen, Finland, 372.