– I still had it under control and it’s so fun to win a medal. I really had motivation on that sprint lap where I had good confidence, says Elvira Öberg to SVT Sport and admits that she became speechless at the top of the last hill.
On the sprint lap, it looked as if Öberg would give Norway a fight for the silver, but the Swede was very quiet and from behind the Swiss Amy Baserga came quickly and was so close to being able to pass Öberg, who ran out completely in the rain.
Lukas: “I had time to get nervous”
– I actually got nervous, says national team captain Johannes Lukas.
Elvira Öberg went into the last shooting in a battle for silver with Norway’s Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold, but after two extra shots, Switzerland passed Amy Baserga and was 11.5 seconds ahead of Sweden, where Öberg had to chase a medal from fourth place.
Baserga was quickly passed by a brilliant Öberg, who, however, had to pay heavily for the investment.
France won after an impressive finish by Julia Simon who was jubilantly hugged by her teammates in the electric light.
France won despite a penalty shootout
France’s Justine Braisaz-Bouchet had to take a penalty round after her standing shooting but was able to replace Julia Simon in the lead on the last stretch.
Hanna Öberg, who had a fall, replaced little sister Elvira in fourth 22.8 seconds after the lead when it was about to close.
– It means a lot to win a medal. We got the start we wanted in the championship and now we can relax, says Hanna Öberg.
Martin Ponsiluoma, just one extra shot, drove Sweden up to fifth place in the second leg after a nervous Sebastian Samuelsson had to take five extra shots in the first leg and just avoided a penalty round. Samuelsson was down in 16th place for a while but was able to switch to seventh.
– A medal is a medal and I had good teammates there at the end, smiles Samuelsson.
Javascript must be enabled to play video
See the broadcast from the Biathlon World Cup here Photo: Thomas Bachun