It was the first World Cup race of the season and the first in front of an audience in almost two years.
Then Hanna Öberg had a nightmare day in the distance in Östersund last Saturday. Admittedly, skiing was right, but on the shooting range there were seven barriers in the Olympic gold discipline and in the results list on worst placement since 2017 (74th).
But Sweden’s biggest biathlon star had shown before that she can quickly turn a bad day into a podium.
Now she did it again.
Two flawless transport series in Sunday’s sprint, of which the standing shot in a fast 22 seconds, was enough all the way to the fifth World Cup victory of his career.
When the 26-year-old crossed himself between interviews at a chilled home arena, it was with a different glow than after the premiere.
– Yesterday was a little extra lighter fluid to really sharpen for me today, she says when she finally reaches DN and other writing media after interviews with Swedish, Norwegian, German and French television companies.
– I’m so happy I could bounce back. I know I can shoot this well, I’m happy to show it.
– Hanna Öberg shot full in the sprint.
Photo: Anders Wiklund / TT
How did you feel last night (Saturday night)?
– I never think I have been so happy with such a bad result, says Öberg and starts laughing.
– It was a disaster on the shooting range and the result was then. But I took with me the positive parts, that the ride worked and today I got to show that I can relax and do the job as I normally do.
She continues:
– I see it as a strength I have, to be able to turn it from a worse race to a good competition the next day.
After two Olympic medals of which one gold 2018, three World Cup medals of which one gold 2019, one World Cup bronze 2020 and three World Cup medals of which an individual silver this winter, Öberg is expected to come to the Winter Olympics in Beijing as one of the biggest favorites.
In Sunday’s sprint, the victory margin to French runner-up Anaïs Chevalier-Bouchet, who also shot full, was 11.3 seconds and to Norwegian runner-up Marte Olsbu Røiseland (a boom) another four seconds.
In pure riding time was Hanna Öberg is the starting field’s third fastest skier.
What does this give for self-confidence before the rest of the season and before the Olympics?
– It is clear that it means a lot. I am also so happy that I get the opportunity to do this race at home and in front of the audience. It means a lot to win here, I have not done that so many times (“only” the World Cup gold race in distance 2019), says Öberg.
– Elvira Öberg, fastest in the sprint, also finished in the top ten. Here she celebrates big sister Hanna.
Photo: Maxim Thoré / Bildbyrån
Two more Swedes came in the top ten in the sprint when several skiers rose after barriers on Saturday. Elvira Öberg – again fastest in the entire starting field – was eight with two misses and Linn Persson ninth with one.
– It goes fast in biathlon, says Persson, who had six booms in the distance.
Mona Brorsson (two booms) came in 18th place, Anna Magnusson (one boom) in 20th and former long distance star Stina Nilsson (four booms) finished 55th.
Thursday to Sunday continues the World Cup in Östersund.
Whether Stina Nilsson will get the chance again is not yet clear.
– I just want to develop. Whether it is at an IBU Cup (the level or the World Cup) or here, the coaches have to decide, she says.
– I respect that decision.