After two surgeries and an entire season of rehabilitation, the 31-year-old biathlete made a comeback last fall, with little hope of participating in the Olympics.
Honestly, it was impossible in November, says national team coach Johannes Lukas.
He spoke about the long struggle to get Linn Gestblom ready for the Olympic season and highlighted physiotherapist Marcus Bystedt.
I don't know how many hours he and I have talked with her on the phone, probably twice as much as with our wives. Then came that relay race in Östersund, when we felt there was the capacity to make a relay work, says Lukas.
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I'm surprised myself.
Gestblom made a comeback in the mixed relay at the World Cup opener in Östersund, but then competed sparingly, and with equally limited success, in the World Cup.
But then something happened during the Olympic camp in Livigno.
I wrote to the coaches who were in Nove Mesto. "Something miraculous is happening here," says Lukas.
Gestblom herself doesn't want to call it a miracle.
But it's still a bit unbelievable that I've been able to come back and that I can perform at that level. I'm actually a little surprised, she says.
"Peaked at the right time"
She believes the explanation for her strong Olympic form is the limited competition after her comeback, which has helped her avoid a setback with her shoulder.
"We've taken it carefully and at the pace needed, and tried to keep some calm. Everything has felt good in my body and I've got my form right," says Gestblom.
At the Olympics, she was the top Swede in the distance race, finishing ninth. She was 22nd in the sprint and tenth in the pursuit, and then took silver in the relay. On Saturday she will compete in the mass start that concludes the biathlon competitions at the Olympics.
Ingela Ahlberg/TT
Facts: Linn Gestblom
TT
Born: June 27, 1994 in Östmark in Värmland.
Lives: Östersund.
Club: Bore.
World Cup debut: 2015.
Main achievements: Olympics: gold in relay 2022, silver in relay 2018 and 2026. World Championships: Silver in distance 2023 and in relay 2019 and 2024, bronze in sprint 2023, in relay 2023 and mixed relay 2021. World Cup, individual: 1 second place, 2 third places.
