They run the single mixed relay for Sweden in the Biathlon World Cup
OBERHOF. As expected, it will be Sebastian Samuelsson and Hanna Öberg who are paired together in Thursday’s single mixed relay.
At the same time, the national team management announces that Johanna Skottheim will also be flown in as a reserve for Elvira Öberg.
– Stina Nilsson didn’t feel quite well today, says coach Johannes Lukas.
Sebastian Samuelsson has already received two bronze medals from the WC, but nobler denominations and especially gold have been largely impossible due to Johannes Thingnes Bö’s dominance.
But now there is a race where “JTB” for once does not compete alone and then Samuelsson hopes to step on top of the podium.
“Absolutely safe”
It is, just as expected, he and Hanna Öberg who form a team in Thursday’s single mixed relay.
– It has been a tough selection. Linn has done fantastically well, but if you look at the whole championship, it might be better for her to take it easy tomorrow. With Sebbe it was quite easy, but between Hanna and Linn it is quite even, says coach Johannes Lukas.
Elvira Öberg is still ill and therefore Johanna Skottheim is flown in.
– Elvira feels a little better than yesterday, but is still not completely at one hundred, so we have decided to send Johanna Skottheim here as a reserve. Stina Nilsson didn’t feel quite well today, we’ve been aware of that for the last few days that something isn’t quite right. But Johanna is ready, says Johannes Lukas.
Was Stina the first choice?
– No, we have evaluated both. Johanna has good experience with relays. Stina has trained a little more than Johanna before when she was sick last week, but she has been doing very nice interval sessions now. She is certainly not in top form, but she is a good reserve to have in place.
“Security”
The single mixed relay is a relatively new distance in the championship context and was run for the first time at the WC in Östersund 2019.
Sebastian Samuelsson and Hanna Öberg have formed a team for Sweden all three times it has been run at the championships and they have won medals twice.
– It is a security that we have done it before, but we have also been just outside. It is important to perform at your best if you want to win a medal, says Samuelsson.
