Sebastian Samuelsson has no relative who is a TV expert, but he and the rest of the national team know SVT's expert Mona Brorsson well, because she stopped competing just two years ago.
HBO Max expert Oskar Brandt is partnered with star Elvira Öberg and is the brother of Olympic skier Viktor Brandt. And Anna Magnusson's partner Peppe Femling, who retired from the national team in 2024, has appeared on TV4's 'Efter Fem' sofa and commented on the team selection for the mixed relay, where Magnusson took the place ahead of Elvira Öberg.
"There it is rather an advantage that he recently competed at the Olympics, knows everyone on the team and is together with one of the stars. And most importantly: we are completely transparent about how things are with Peppe and Anna Magnusson," writes Staffan Harvig, executive producer for the Olympics on TV4, in a written response to TT.
Easier to criticize, buddy.
Mona Brorsson says she understands that people may be skeptical about the close ties between experts and riders.
But for me, I think I've been able to use it as a strength because I know the riders. And I think most people in my position feel the same way, that it can actually be easier to criticize someone you know very well. Precisely because you know what that person's capacity is, you know what they're happy with and when they're disappointed, she says.
Pär Andersson, project manager at HBO Max, explains the choice of Oskar Brandt as an expert:
"He has really good insight into shooting and is now a coach. It's clear that there has been a discussion, but it's good to have a new TV voice in biathlon who has good insight," he says.
“Know when I am disappointed”
The biathletes themselves have no problem with loved ones being experts and giving them criticism.
Mona, Peppe, Oskar and these guys, they know when I'm disappointed. And is it really an expert's main job to criticize? They don't have to be cheerleaders, the main thing is to be an expert, says Öberg.
Magnusson on his partner criticizing him:
Peppe knows when I'm happy and when I'm not, so if he says something is bad, I still mostly agree with him.
Samuelsson also takes the criticism in stride.
It's their job to think about things, he says.
