Elvira Öberg: “Safer at the World Cup than at Ica”

The corona pandemic refuses to let go; The omicron variant has further complicated things – with a really large spread of infection in many parts of Europe as a result.

And now many winter athletes are starting to worry, given that the Beijing Olympics will be inaugurated in less than a month.

In the Swedish alpine national team, several leaders and skiers have been infected by covid-19. And the other day the news came that the World Cup competitions in cross-country skiing in French Les Rousses next weekend will be canceled.

“Not very worried”

But in the World Cup in biathlon, so far no competitions have been canceled. And Elvira Öberg is not particularly worried about the World Cup competitions to come in Germany – in Oberhof, due to snow problems, the competition starts a day later tomorrow Friday, this week, and Ruhpolding next week.

-We managed to complete the entire season last year when the situation in many places was worse. We have gone back to tougher restrictions now, they are quite similar to the ones we had last season with a lot of testing and bubbles within the team. We are actually quite isolated from other people and we keep our distance even within the team. I feel pretty safe, IBU (the International Biathlon Federation) did a fantastic job last season, dealing with the pandemic and the infection, she says.

TT: So it is not relevant to give up World Cup competitions before the Olympics for fear of becoming covids infected?

– Not for that reason. In all probability, we will be over competitions anyway, but not for fear of becoming infected. I actually feel more secure out at the World Cup, isolated in a hotel room, than when I’m home and going to Ica and shopping.

Does Antholz give up?

It is the competitions in Italian Antholz in two weeks – the last before the Olympics – that Elvira Öberg seems to give up.

– To bring in a longer training period before the Olympics and acclimatize to high altitude in peace and quiet. As it stands now, we – or at least I – will stand over Antholz. Instead, I will go up to a high altitude and acclimatize.

But first and foremost, sprint competitions await in Oberhof this weekend. Elvira Öberg took home two straight World Cup victories – in the hunt start and in the mass start – in French Le Grand-Bornand before Christmas.

But it is not a matter of course that the form is preserved.

– I got a cold at the beginning of the Christmas break and ended up behind in training. I’ve been training pretty hard the last week, so we’ll see how the form will be. I do not expect top form – I needed the training to get in a little extra before the Olympics. I choose to prioritize that now and accept a little worse form. If I can keep a good basic form, there are no worries.

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