Sebastian Samuelsson’s mistake in the single mixed relay may have cost Sweden a medal.
Norwegian television hardly believed it was true.
– How is that possible!?, says NRK’s commentator.
Sweden was one of the given gold favorites when the single mixed relay in the Biathlon World Cup was decided on Thursday. Hanna Öberg came directly from a gold in the distance race, and Sebastian Samuelsson has impressed so far with two bronzes in the championship.
Norwegian surprise
But it was not Sweden’s – and above all not Sebastian Samuelsson’s – day. Samuelsson had several misses in his first stretch, and once he got into his last shoot there was a chance for a medal, if he only shot fast and full. But then everything went wrong.
Samuelsson managed to go in and stand on the wrong mat. He was forced to back down, stand on the right, and then there were several misses, which ruined Sweden’s medal chances. A rare miss – which caused Norway to react strongly.
– How is that possible!? This is very strange, very, very strange, says NRK commentator Andreas Stabrun Smith.
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“Just messing with it”
NRK’s expert Ola Lunde believes that it may have cost Sweden, as it may have taken focus from Samuelsson in an already pressured situation.
– He was already a little behind, and then he just messes it up. He tries to make an offensive streak, fails and loses focus, he says.
Sebastian Samuelsson said that it was a mistake from the official, who showed unclearly where he should stand.
– I see him and am not quite sure where he is pointing. But it doesn’t really matter, I know which number I’m going to enter. It just gets strange, and everything goes very fast, he says.
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