Ella Halvarsson is 25 years old. But it wasn't until this season that she managed to make it into the A national team. Then came the big breakthrough.
I think it's a combination of getting much better sparring in the A team and being healthy and injury-free. The high-altitude training camps we've had have also made a difference, says Ella Halvarsson.
Her ski coach in the development national team, Ola Ravald, agrees.
She has always been a good shooter and has always taken steps every season. This year, it's mainly the skiing that has improved significantly, she has taken more responsibility in training, he says.
She had a bit of bad luck in 2023 when she cycled and fell during her vacation in Denmark and got problems with a hand (fractures) that bothered her for quite a long time.
Except for the injury that made her miss training before last season, Ella Halvarsson has been quite sick in recent years.
Never gave up
But despite not making it into the A national team until she was 25, she never thought of giving up her biathlon career.
I think it's because I've developed a little every year, even though the big breakthrough didn't come until this year. It's very motivating when you feel like you're getting closer, says Halvarsson.
Ravald says that it usually takes a few years to take the step to the top elite in biathlon.
At the level of elite athletes, it's not just the training that needs to get better. If you're going to train more, you need to sleep more, you need to eat better – it's a whole package that needs to be lifted. Ella has done that very well this year, he says.
"Completely crazy"
Previously, Halvarsson also had problems with vomiting, both before and after the races. It has gotten better.
Yes, actually, it's only been two times. It's good, nice, because you don't feel good, she says.
Is it just about nervousness?
I think it's nervousness mixed with getting tired when you're doing tough races. Now I can handle the nerves better, she says.
In the World Cup premiere in Kontiolahti, Halvarsson won the single mixed relay together with Sebastian Samuelsson, and then came second in the short distance. And she is already qualified for the World Championship mass start as 12th in the World Cup.
It's completely crazy, really, to be guaranteed a start in the World Championship. I'm very proud of that, says the World Championship debutant.
Born: October 22, 1999, in Borlänge.
Club: Biathlon Östersund.
Background: Skied both cross-country and biathlon as a youngster. Won Junior World Championship gold in the relay in 2018, among others, together with Elvira Öberg. Didn't choose between the skis until the 2020-21 season when she also made it into the junior national team and got to compete in the IBU Cup, with several top 10 placings.
Has been part of the development national team for several years and made it into the A national team last summer.
Surprised in the first World Cup competition of the season when she in Kontiolahti won the single mixed relay together with Sebastian Samuelsson and came second in the short distance. Currently 12th in the World Cup.
Current: Makes her World Championship debut in Friday's World Championship sprint in Lenzerheide, starting at 15.05.
