Sweden’s Biathlon world Cup Squad Finalized After Stellar European Championships Performance
The Swedish biathlon national team has finalized its World Cup squad following an notable showing at the European Championships in Martell. With two spots initially left open—one for the women’s team and one for the men’s—the competition weekend saw four medals secured, solidifying the final selections.Anna-Karin Heijdenberg emerged as a standout performer, claiming three individual medals—one gold, one silver, and one bronze—across various disciplines. Her stellar performance earned her a coveted spot in the World Cup squad. On the men’s side, Emil Nykvist secured a bronze medal in the distance event and placed sixth in the sprint, earning his place on the team.
In a surprising twist, the national team leadership decided to expand the squad, granting an additional spot to Johanna Skottheim. “It has been tight between Anna-Karin and Johanna, and both have performed well at high altitude, which is why we give them both places in the World Cup squad,” said Johannes Luka, head coach for the Swedish Biathlon Association.
The trio of Heijdenberg, Nykvist, and Skottheim now face different preparations ahead of the World Cup. Heijdenberg and Nykvist will join the Pre-Camp in Oberiach with the rest of the team, while Skottheim will compete in the IBU Cup in Ridnaun before linking up with the squad in Lenzerheide.
The World cup in Lenzerheide is set to take place from February 12 to 23, with the team preparing at high altitude in ObertiTilliach until February 9. This strategic move aims to optimize performance for the challenging conditions expected in Lenzerheide.
The Swedish World Cup Squad
| Category | Athletes |
|————–|————–|
| Ladies | Anna magnusson, Anna-Karin Heijdenberg, Ella Halvarsson, Elvira Öberg, Hanna Öberg, Johanna Skottheim |
| Gentlemen | Emil Nykvist, Jesper Nelin, Martin Ponsiluoma, Sebastian Samuelsson, Viktor Brandt |
For those interested in the competition schedule, the full program for the World Cup in biathlon can be found here. Additionally, the Norwegian World Cup squad lineup is available here.
As the Swedish team gears up for the World Cup, fans eagerly anticipate whether their recent success at the European Championships will translate into podium finishes on the global stage.