It was messy when Nelin went out on the sprint lap.
– I didn’t know where I was when I went out. Then I was excited but also nervous that someone behind would catch up and was speechless at the end. I am very pleased to finish third.
Heading into the stadium, Nelin was second, but Benedikt Doll approached and pulled away to second place, while a very tired Swede was able to save the podium for the first time in his career and make a small gesture of victory.
– I get caught, it’s so cruel. He’s worth it so damn much. It was the best thing that could have happened today, says shooting coach Jean-Marc Chabloz.
When Sebastian Samuelsson came in third for the last shot, leader Tarjei Bö had shot three blocks and Boll two. Samuelsson had the chance to win but shot three misses.
“Had to fight to get the last shot down”
Then, as I said, another Swede took the chance, Jesper Nelin in his 151st individual World Cup race.
He came in seventh and fired full, taking 19 of 20 hits, nursing his last standing shot for a long time, and was able to go fourth on the sprint lap.
– I had to fight to get the last shot down and I had to start over to get it down. It was so nice to get it down, says Nelin.
“Would have won with four hits in the last”
Martin Ponsiluoma had a strong sprint lap and finished ninth. In any case, Sebastian Samuelsson got a highly prestigious sprint victory against Johannes Thingnes Bö (started with three hurdles in prone) and finished 13th.
– Should it be so damn hard to score the last five shots? How mentally weak do you have to be? I worry a lot, if I had got four hits in the last I would have won, says Samuelsson.
