PHOTO: Bildbyrån
A sick Hanna Öberg was missing when biathlon returned after the turn of the year.
But it would still be a Swedish success.
Sister Elvira Öberg showed great class both on the track and on the shooting ramp – and in the end no one could threaten the Swedish star.
Biathlon took a short break while the world celebrated the New Year. But on Thursday, the World Cup was back when the riders had made it to Slovenia and Pokljuka. Hanna Öberg was forced to withdraw due to illness, but as always there were several Swedish stars with, for example Elvira Öberg, Anna Magnusson and Lynn Persson.
Öberg’s fine start
For the day, sprints were on the schedule, and it was Anna Magnusson who was the first Swede out on the track. Magnusson who after the success before Christmas and New Year contracted covid-19, which opened up for question marks before today’s competition. There was also a miss already in the first shot, and thus there was no top position for Magnusson this time.
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For Elvira Öberg, it went better, the big star shot full and was very much involved in the fight for the podium places. Linn Persson also missed a shot in the first shootout, but after putting all five shots in the uprights, she was also in the fight.
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The Swedish success
But Persson had to see himself outshone by Elvira Öberg this Thursday. She shot full even in the standing shooting and when the tempo was changed up in the track, the Swedish superstar went for victory. But behind her in the field there were those who could threaten, not least the French and the World Cup leader Julia Simon.
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Öberg finished in a superior lead.
– Elvira Öberg has made a super competition, says SVT’s commentator Ola Bränholm.
Julia Simon also shot full in the second shooting and took up the pursuit of the Swede, but Öberg’s performance was too tough to match. Thus, it was a dream start to 2023 for Elvira Öberg, who won in Pokljuka and showed a real message of form right at the beginning of the new year. The victory meant Öberg’s sixth World Cup victory in his career and the second of the season.
– It’s great, above all she shoots full. It’s basically a perfect race, says SVT expert Björn Ferry about today’s fine effort.
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