Last year, Sebastian Samuelsson took WC bronze at this distance. But this year’s Biathlon World Cup has certainly not been a Swedish success.
At the distance of 20 kilometres, the Swedish men missed out completely. Samuelsson had three blocks – Martin Ponsiluoma a total of six blocks. The former was the best Swede in seventh place.
– This is a little too much boom. It’s hard to say why, maybe they’re a little defensive, but we’ll have to talk to them afterwards, says Johan Hagström, shooting coach, for SVT Sport.
– It was not as we had imagined. There are too many barriers in a distance with these conditions, says union captain Johannes Lukas.
“I think everyone understands that I’m here to fight for medals”
Samuelsson himself:
– I think I feel much more confident shooting than I have done in recent weeks. It’s easy conditions today, but there are very small margins, he says and continues.
– Today it is not good enough to win medals and it is clear that I am disappointed about that.
Johannes Thingnes Bö, who had a boom, took his twelfth individual WC gold medal. Big brother Tarjei Bö took home the silver and the German Johannes Doll the bronze.
Ponsiluoma: “Completely losing my head”
Sweden has so far only one medal during the championship, which was taken in the mixed relay.
– So far I am without an individual medal and it is clear that I think it is sad. I think everyone understands that I am here to fight for the medals, says Samuelsson.
Ponsiluoma was of course very disappointed with him.
– It was a really boring competition. It felt fine at the beginning, but then I lost my head completely when the shooting was so bad, he says.
Hear Sebastian Samuelsson after the distance in the clip below.
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Photo: Fredrik Sandberg/TT