When Charlotte Kalla had her big breakthrough in 2008, Hanna Öberg was a 13-year-old girl who practiced biathlon at home in Piteå.
Calla’s career would be one long success story. In total, she took home three Olympic golds, six Olympic silvers, three WC golds, six WC silvers, four WC bronzes and a classic Tour de Ski victory. Add to that over 50 podium places in the World Cup and Charlotte Kalla is one of Sweden’s most successful athletes of all time.
Two years ago, Kalla announced that her career was over, since then she has, among other things, had time to become a mother.
Hanna Öberg had her big breakthrough during the Olympics in Pyeongchang 2018 when she caused a huge sensation when she took home the gold in the distance race.
Both Öberg and Kalla have belonged to clubs in Piteå, Öberg still does, but it is only now that the two stars have really gotten to know each other. This winter, together with Elvira Öberg and Jonna Sundling, they started the podcast “Vinterpasset”.
– I have not known either Charlotte or Jonna very much before, but now we have really gotten to know each other and it feels good, says Hanna Öberg and believes that there is a lot they can share with each other.
– Charlotte and has an incredible career behind her and enormous experience on how to handle different situations.
“We’ve talked about it”
Hanna Öberg believes that her own career has changed in recent years.
– In the beginning everything was exciting and new, now there is a lot of repetition. You return to the same places and much looks the same. And then it is rewarding to be able to hear how Charlotte has thought when she has been in the same situation, says Öberg.
And ahead of the ongoing WC, the Öberg sisters have talked to cross-country team members Kalla and Sundling about how to work with form topping.
– Both Charlotte and Jonna are incredibly talented championship skaters. Exchanging experiences around it feels extremely good, says Hanna Öberg and continues:
– Everyone knows that training is important, but it may not really be the most central thing in getting in shape. It’s more of a feeling you want, to recover and build a surplus. Those pieces are at least as important as the training you do.
“Having something going on”
Today, Hanna Öberg is ready to run the distance race in the WC, the race where she won both Olympic and WC gold.
In this year’s WC, Hanna Öberg has so far stood on the podium in one race, when Sweden took home the bronze in the mixed relay. In the subsequent sprint, Öberg finished in eighth place and then advanced to fifth place in the pursuit start.
– It feels better and better, and like I have something going on. I’m really looking forward to running the distance race, says Öberg, who was disturbed by a period of illness earlier this winter.
At the WC last year, it was a great success for Hanna Öberg when she took home a total of four medals. Two individual golds and one silver, as well as a bronze in the relay.
READ MORE: The Swedish doldisen can secure a podium placeREAD MORE: Biathlon World Cup 2024 • Program • TV • Times • Results • All info
