Swedish leaders made the wave along the track, Fredrik Lindström crossed the finish line close to the minute before Norway and the cheering pictures that followed are a piece of Swedish sports history.
Peppe Femling, Jesper Nelin, Sebastian Samuelsson and Fredrik Lindström won Olympic gold in the men’s biathlon relay 2018.
In the stands in Pyeongchang stood the reserve Martin Ponsiluoma. With mixed feelings.
– It is a strong memory, I do not know if it was so positive, but then it was like something burned in a … says the 26-year-old today.
– They wanted to work harder and be part of the team next time.
It inspired you to take the next step?
– Yes exactly. You wanted a safe place in the team and work for it, not stand outside again.
– Swedish gold jubilation after victory in the Olympic relay in biathlon 2018.
Photo: Carl Sandin / Bildbyrån
Almost four years later is he given in the Swedish men’s relay team.
And hardly just because Fredrik Lindström has quit.
Martin Ponsiluoma tog the first podium of his career in the World Cup the season after the Olympics. But it was last winter that the giant lift came.
A 33rd place in the overall World Cup 2019–20 was transformed into place ten in the summary this spring. Ahead of the World Cup in Slovenia in February Ponsiluoma stood twice on the podium. And well in Pokljuka came the hit: one World Cup gold in sprint.
Add silver to the men’s relay and bronze to the mixed relay, and Ponsiluoma has been given the place he dreamed of on a chilly gold night in South Korea.
– You always want to develop and move forward, he says about his journey from the 2018 Olympics to the 2022 Olympics.
– Now it’s about getting a good World Cup start and then sharpening your form until the Olympics.
– Martin Ponsiluoma during training in Östersund.
Photo: Anders Wiklund / TT
This year season got admittedly a nightmare start.
Martin Ponsiluoma was completely without world cup points in Östersund last weekend, but in the sprint on Thursday there were two booms and place eleven a real fall forward – and for the Olympics in February, he will be in a new position.
Last year’s successes have led to new attention and new sponsors, he says. But the biathlete who was an extra in Pyeongchang has not made himself known as the one who is seen and heard the most.
– Financially, there is a little difference, but otherwise I do not think there have been so many changes, he says about the new life as world champion.
– It’s more that I have more self-confidence myself and go in with higher expectations.
The Olympic ticket to Beijing was acknowledged he out already this spring.
The first men’s relay of the season awaits on Saturday.
That he has already been to an Olympics is a good experience, he says before the winter’s big goal. Even if it was just a race (38th in distance).
– If I can dream, it would be very cool with a medal. That is the goal and what I strive for.
– Hanna Öberg and Martin Ponsiluoma told earlier this autumn that they are a couple.
Photo: Johan Axelsson / Bildbyrån
By his side in the venture, he has his new girlfriend and biathlon star Hanna Öberg.
Wall created big headlines when the romance became known earlier this fall, but Ponsiluoma prefers to talk about how the stars can push each other.
– We have a good feeling and have had a good summer together, we try to boost each other all the time.