Sturla Holm Lægreid continued his dominant form, achieving his fifth straight World Cup victory and winning the sprint cup title over Sweden's Sebastian Samuelsson based on number of sprint wins, with Lægreid having two and Samuelsson one. According to official sources, Lægreid has won all competitions except one since the Olympic Games in Italy. Sweden placed second in the single mixed relay in Otepää, with Sebastian Samuelsson and Hanna Öberg competing for the team.
Hanna Öberg skied the last leg and went out ten seconds ahead of Finland's Suvi Minkkinen after the last shooting, according to official sources. Sweden's lead grew and the podium place was secured, marking the country's 31st podium place this season, as reported by official sources. Norway won the single mixed relay, with Sturla Holm Lægreid and Karoline Knotten competing for the team.
A special competition, but fun that we do well.
Karoline Knotten skied to the finish one minute and 45 seconds ahead of Hanna Öberg, according to official sources. Sebastian Samuelsson missed the sprint cup title in the World Cup by a minimal margin, according to major media reports. He also missed every individual medal at the Olympics a month ago, as noted by major media.
In the pursuit events in Otepää, Sturla Holm Lægreid won the men's pursuit with a victory margin of over two minutes, according to major media reports. Sebastian Samuelsson missed four shots in the last shooting of the pursuit and finished fifth, as reported by major media. Suvi Minkkinen finished second in the women's pursuit in Otepää and leads the pursuit World Cup by 20 points over Lou Jeanmonnot, according to major media reports.
It's sour as hell.
Among Swedish competitors, Anna-Karin Heijdenberg missed her last shot in the pursuit and finished seventh, near her first career podium, while Linn Gestblom was the best Swedish woman with sixth place, and Hanna Öberg finished eighth, as noted by major media. In the sprint events in Otepää, Julia Simon won the women's sprint ahead of Lisa Vittozzi and Lou Jeanmonnot, according to major media reports. Elvira and Hanna Öberg missed podium places due to shooting errors, with Elvira Öberg being the best Swedish woman in the sprint with eighth place, as reported by major media.
Overall World Cup developments saw Éric Perrot secure the overall World Cup title, according to major media reports. Johan-Olav Botn passed Sebastian Samuelsson in the overall World Cup standings, as noted by major media. A dramatic equipment failure occurred when Ragna Fodstad had to break off the mass start in the Norwegian national championships in biathlon after her rifle broke on the range, according to official sources.
I think Samuelsson is really angry.
The incident happened when Fodstad picked up the weapon and prepared to shoot in the third shooting of the mass start, and her rifle collapsed and broke in half, as reported by official sources. She appealed in vain to the organizer in Os, but the situation could not be saved, and she had to break off, according to official sources. Maren Kirkeeide won the mass start in the Norwegian national championships, according to official sources.
In Swedish championships, Tullus SG's first team, including Martin Ponsiluoma, won the Swedish Championship gold in the relay, according to major media reports. Oscar Andersson won the sprint on Friday with strong shooting, according to major media reports. The Swedish men's biathlon team won the Olympic bronze medal, according to research sources.
I was eager to do a good race. I wanted to test my body properly. I thought that the chance was there, but then the USA, above all, had to do something a little bit better and they did.
Viktor Brandt had a weak start for Sweden, missing two shots in the first shooting round and using all three spare rounds, forcing him into a penalty loop, as reported by research sources. He was 41 seconds behind Norway after the penalty loop, and when Jesper Nelin took over, Sweden was about a minute behind Norway, according to research sources. Jesper Nelin escaped the penalty round but lost time in the second shooting round when the spare rounds would not go in, as noted by research sources.
Martin Ponsiluoma struggled in the shooting and needed all three spare rounds in the prone to avoid a penalty loop, according to research sources. Before the final stretch, Sweden was still far down the field, as reported by research sources. Sebastian Samuelsson took over for Sweden and began to move up the field with strong skiing and steady shooting, according to research sources.
It was a great atmosphere going out on the sprint lap when everyone was shouting and cheering for Finland there. I would have given them that, but I'd rather be on the podium.
He gained around 40 seconds and brought Sweden up from seventh place into contention for the podium, and decided the battle for third place on the last lap by pulling away from his competitors, as reported by research sources. He apologized to the Finnish crowd at the finish line, as Finland was one of the teams he passed in pursuit of the podium, according to research sources. Endre Stroemsheim was unsure how he would fare in this first competition, making him a bit nervous before the start, according to research sources.
He gained confidence with each step during the race, as noted by research sources. France was disqualified in the single mixed relay after Émilien Jacquelin used one shot too many, according to major media reports.