Jesper Nelin third in Holmenkollen in the biathlon mass start

Updated 17.21 | Published 15.58

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He has waited a whole career.

Today, Jesper Nelin, 31, took his first individual podium in the World Cup.

– Finally, he says after the success.

150 individual starts in the World Cup – not a single podium.

Now the wait is over for Jesper Nelin.

The 31-year-old had the race of his life in the Norwegian Holmenkollen mass start and when the competitors pushed away in the last stand, the veteran held it together.

Sturla Holm Laegreid took home the victory and the German Benedikt Doll sprinted past Nelin and seized second place.

But Nelin was third.

“Fought for so long”

In doing so, he beat his previous personal best (sixth) handily.

– Finally! That’s how it feels now. I’ve been fighting for so many years and finally it’s letting go and I’m on the podium. I have felt that I have had this potential for a long time, but I have never achieved it until now, says Nelin in SVT.

Praised: “So worth it”

He was mostly relieved after the success.

Among teammates and coaches, however, there was pure joy.

– It’s incredibly fun. Jesper has fought for many years and was very close. It’s really fun that he gets to step on the podium, says Martin Ponsiluoma.

– I get caught, that is. It’s so cruel! He deserves this so damn much. This was the best thing that could happen today. Absolutely sick, says shooting coach Jean-Marc Chabloz in SVT.

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full screen Jesper Nelin. Photo: Mathias Bergeld / BildbyrånFAKTA