Jesper Nelin and Martin Ponsiluoma were responsible for three penalty rounds, but Linn Gestblom and Hanna Öberg (only one extra shot each) lifted Sweden to a final seventh place, just over two minutes behind victorious France.
Despite the tough start and the mediocre result, Linn Gestblom (formerly Persson) was exuberantly happy afterwards. She had made a comeback after 651 days, since she chose to end the season before last early after the World Championships in Nove Mesto due to shoulder problems that led to two surgeries and a long rehabilitation.
I've tried not to think about the comeback, but I've been longing for it and looking forward to standing here afterwards and that it's gone well.
And she did well in her comeback. She was second in her leg.
I'm really happy that it went well and about the feedback I got out on the track – it was a positive experience, she says.
It was a woman who shouted, "Welcome back, nice to see you."
Impressed by Gestblom
Hanna Öberg, who was the fastest in the final stretch, was very happy that Linn Gestblom is now back.
It's great fun, I'm impressed with her, she's been away for so long. She has incredible strength, despite a lot of worries with injuries and stuff. There's no one who can fight like her, she's got a real bone in her bones.
Gestblom says that national team coach Johannes Lukas has been a great support to her during the 21 months she has been away.
And the whole team, everyone has been there over the years and it has been important to have that backing.
“I must apologize”
Lukas says he talked more to Gestblom than to his own wife.
"I have to apologize for that," Gestblom says with a laugh.
Yes, we have had a close dialogue.
There will be no more races in Östersund, where the World Cup premiere is taking place all next week, for Linn Gestblom.
"It will be very, very nice, I can get some peace in my body. The plan is to focus on rehab so there won't be a reaction to this (the race)," she says.
