Fifth place is the worst placement ever for Sweden in a single mixed relay at a World Championship.
This competition format has been on the World Championship program since 2019, and Sweden has previously won two bronze and three fourth places – every time with Hanna Öberg and Sebastian Samuelsson as the team.
However, there was a chance for a medal even this time. In the very last shooting, Sebastian Samuelsson entered the range as fourth, only seconds behind third-placed Johannes Thingnes Bø – and when the Norwegian missed, it suddenly looked bright for Sweden.
"You can always shoot better"
But Samuelsson also missed, and on the final lap, he slipped down another place to fifth.
"Sebbe" had two misses in the last shooting, it's clear that it's a bit disappointing. It's clear that you can always shoot better, as long as you don't shoot full, says shooting coach Jean-Marc Chabloz in SVT.
In total, Sweden needed to take seven reserve shots, compared to Norway's 15, but despite this, the Swedish duo couldn't match the very best. After the race, Halvarsson said she had struggled with the material on the ski track.
"Get a bit surprised"
Maybe we didn't have the best skis today. The waxers are doing everything they can, but I don't think we had as good as the other nations, she says in SVT.
You get a bit surprised, you try to push but it goes heavy. You don't get forward properly. It's most noticeable downhill, towards the stadium. It's wet and difficult waxing today, she continues.
France, with Julia Simon and Quentin Fillon Maillet, won the World Championship gold. Bø drove Norway up to silver, despite his three misses in the last shooting, and Germany took the bronze.
