Two WC firsts start for Sweden when the Biathlon World Cup begins with the single mixed relay on home soil on Saturday.
Both Sebastian Samuelsson and Hanna Öberg were successful in the WC in February with four medals each.
But none of the medals came in a mixed event.
Sebastian Samuelsson was devastated after finishing in the WC premiere in Oberhof, where he surprisingly incurred three penalty rounds in his prone shooting in the mixed relay with four skaters.
It was a rarely seen shooting collapse – which later that day received an explanation: A screw was loose between the barrel and the rifle stock.
How careful will you be with your screws now?
– Lol. It is clear that I will be very careful, the 26-year-old already told DN earlier last fall.
– But I really see it as a one-time thing, so I’m not worried about it happening again. But I’ll have to check one more time.
Sebastian Samuelsson after the loose screw and the barriers in the WC premiere in the mixed relay. Photo: Mathias Bergeld/Bildbyrån
Just Samuelsson and Öberg has previously won two WC bronze medals in the non-Olympic branch single mixed relay, where two skaters run two distances each. But in the last WC, it was a snowy fourth place after Samuelsson first went to the wrong mat in the decider, and then incurred a penalty round.
But the star has almost forgotten that effort.
– Yes, it was a bit difficult in there to stand up, he says after Friday’s snowy training at the ski stadium in Östersund.
– I haven’t thought much about that competition to be completely honest, but it’s a bit like the single mixed relay. You can win but also come fourth or fifth. It is very tight and many good teams.
But do you want to have more control over the carpet now?
– Yes, now I have more control!
“I really see it as a one-time thing, so I’m not worried about it happening again. But I have to check an extra time,” says Samuelsson about the confusion in the WC. Photo: Petter Arvidson/Bildbyrån
Hanna Öberg is happy to start the season with single mixed.
– It’s a very fun competition, she says.
– “Sebbe” and I have run many single mixed relays in the past, so I feel really safe with him.
Is there a desire for revenge from the WC?
– We always want to do as well as possible, but it is important to perform four good stretches.
Facts. The premiere day in Östersund
The Biathlon World Cup begins in Östersund November 25–December 3.
Double mixed relays await on Saturday.
Swedish star Martin Ponsiluoma, who has had hip problems in recent weeks, is ready to start. On the other hand, Linn Persson is missing after the pre-season’s double operations (groin and shoulder).
12.30: Single mixed relay.
Sweden’s team: Sebastian Samuelsson, Hanna Öberg.
14.50: Mixedstafett.
Swedish team: Jesper Nelin, Martin Ponsiluoma, Anna Magnusson, Elvira Öberg.
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Sebastian Samuelsson and Hanna Öberg took WC bronze in the single mixed relay in both 2021 (pictured) and 2019. Photo: Joel Marklund/Bildbyrån
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2023-11-24 14:54:41
#Samuelsson #eye #screws #careful
