Stina Nilsson continues to take new steps as a biathlete and despite the fact that the former length star is only in his second season in his new sport, it looks like it could be an Olympic venue for the 28-year-old.
In Friday’s sprint in the German Oberhof, she blocked just one shot on two shots and finally finished as the 14th best skier. Her second best place in the World Cup was thus a fact, as was her strongest effort in a sprint.
The performance certainly has strengthened Nilsson’s shares to seize one of the two Olympic venues that remain to be tamped on the women’s side.
– It’s a very good race by me. I go out at a controlled speed on the first lap and get into the sniper quite safely. It was difficult conditions and a really bad weather, so I was quite set that it will be missed a lot today, says Stina Nilsson.
As she herself is inside where it was far from perfect conditions with strong winds and recurring snowfall, but the Swede who handled the weather best on the shooting range was precisely Stina Nilsson. Before the first horizontal shot, she took her time, but once she got started, all five shots were exactly where they were supposed to be.
– It is a situation that I dream of being in. I want nothing better than to leave the sniper with a zero and be in the match. Very nice to experience it.
– It is not often that I have started with a zero. I was so happy with how I reacted. I was calm and secure with the job I was supposed to do and then it is a good standing series for me that I am super happy with as well, Nilsson continues.
She started the last shot with a boom, but then followed four straight hits. One who was full of admiration was Mona Brorsson, 22nd for the day, who is also chasing an Olympic venue.
– I saw her two shooters and I am so impressed, because she takes on the series as a biathlete. It’s not easy today but she’s definitely shooting. That’s exactly what you’re supposed to do. I am very impressed, says Brorsson to SVT.
When Nilsson passed the finish line she was beaten by only one Swedish, ninth-placed Hanna Öberg who was noted for two booms in total.
– The basic shape is good. It feels like it is the first race after Christmas, so in that way I think it can be even better after this, says Hanna Öberg who was 33.5 seconds behind the winning Norwegian Marte Olsbu Røiseland.
The one who finished strongest in the entire World Cup before the Christmas and New Year break with two straight victories was little sister Elvira Öberg. In the sprint in Oberhof, however, she rode, as she did hinted at in advance, a little on the back burner after a cold and finished just behind Stina Nilsson in 15th place.
This weekend, the World Cup in biathlon continues in Oberhof with mixed relay and single mixed relay on Saturday. On Sunday, the hunt starts, where a competitive Stina Nilsson goes out as the 14th skier.
– The highest price is that I can go hunting. They are so much fun and I know I have an offensive girl right behind me in the form of Elvira, so I think our train will honk and run on Sunday, says Nilsson who, on the other hand, can rest on Saturday.
In the mixed relay, Sweden competes with Sebastian Samuelsson, Martin Ponsiluoma, Hanna Öberg and Elvira Öberg. In the mixed relay, Jesper Nelin rides with Johanna Skottheim.
Read more:
Stina Nilsson: “Not the pursuit of World Cup victories that drives me”
Sebastian Samuelsson nobs the third dose before the Olympics
Elvira Öberg in a new seat in the restart – but does not believe in top form: “Been quite tired”
Comeback for Johanna Skottheim – but advantage Stina Nilsson in the Olympic fight
List: Sweden’s ten biggest medal jumps in the Winter Olympics
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