At the time of writing, the World Cup is taking place in Oberhof for the Swedish national biathlon team there Martin Ponsiluoma and Hanna Öberg seen as key figures.
How has the start of the 2024/25 season been?
The start of the season has mixed successes with disappointments. The recently mentioned Öberg and Ponsiluoma have both had incredibly tough starts to the season.
Both have struggled with injuries and with getting into top form, but the scoreline shows mostly rock bottom. A positive detail for Ponsiluoma is that the latest performance added flavor after he finished twelfth as the best Swede in the sprint in Oberhof.
In an interview with The evening paper Ponsiluoma said of the performance:
– Very nice to have a nice competition and finally a slightly more fun hunting mode. I am satisfied today. It’s incredibly tough out there. Hard to find a good feeling. A plus one, I can’t complain about that with the background I had.
Hanna Öberg and Martin Ponsiluoma. Photo: Anders Wiklund/TTMartin Ponsiluoma’s main merits
That the results have mostly been rock bottom is not typical for Ponsiluoma. He has many fine merits in his backpack. Listed below are his main achievements:
Olympics:
– 2022: silver in mass start, Beijing
WC:
– 2021: gold in sprint, Pokljuka
– 2021: silver in relay, Pokljuka
– 2021: bronze in mixed relay, Pokljuka
– 2023: silver in mass start, Oberhof
– 2023: bronze in relay, Oberhof
– 2024: gold in relay, Nové Město
– 2024: bronze in mixed relay, Nové Město
World Cup:
– 2018: third place in sprint, Nové Město
– 2020: third place in sprint, Kontiolax
– 2020: second place in mass start, Hochfilzen
– 2021: second place in sprint, Hochfilzen
– 2022: first place in distance race, Kontiolax
– 2023: second place in sprint, Antholz
– 2023: third place in hunting start, Antholz
– 2023: third place in hunting start, Nové Město
– 2023: second place in sprint, Oslo
Martin Ponsiluoma home from the 2022 Olympics. Photo: Per Danielsson/TT Martin Ponsiluoma opens up about his relationship with Hanna Öberg
After a tough start to the season, it’s important to have loved ones by your side. That’s exactly what Ponsiluoma is up to after twelfth place in Oberhof.
– I tried to get home and land, be with the family and not think too much about biathlon. That’s what it’s all about, finding the joy of shooting again. It was tough when I got home.
He also talks about his relationship with Öberg, and how he has been able to benefit from it during the Christmas break.
– Yes, it was incredibly nice to come home to her and meet her, we had the family visiting. It was just to be at home and cozy up and have a great time.
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