PHOTO: Bildbyrån
Through better shooting, Sebastian Samuelsson will challenge the Norwegians.
And achieve his career goal – to win the overall World Cup.
– It could be this year, he says.
This weekend is the Swedish premiere in biathlon, in Idre. Then the Swedish national team riders get a first receipt of whether the hard work of the pre-season has paid off.
Samuelsson’s goal
Sebastian Samuelsson’s goal of the summer and autumn training has been to improve the shooting.
– Before last season, I put a lot of effort into shooting faster. I thought it worked very well, but I see that the hit percentage has to go up – that’s what I’ve been missing in order to be able to compete at the very highest level for a longer period of time. I have been a little too uneven in the number of hits, he says.
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He says there haven’t been any major differences in shooting training compared to previous years – he’s been watching video to see what he’s doing in the shooting, he’s been shooting with laser tools to see movement with the weapon and working consistently on shooting technique.
– It is important to have a thought with each session. And to shoot a lot, he says.
“Is better than ever”
Samuelsson’s shooting percentage last season was 86.36 percent lying down and 81.16 percent standing. His shooting coach Johan Hagström says that it is the standing shooting that Samuelsson above all has to get right and that it is what he has worked on the most.
– It is better, but he must continue to make it even better, says Hagström.
– Then a lot has happened for Sebbe this year, he has become a father, and it was a bit up and down at the beginning. But now I’d say he’s better than ever in training.
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Norway must be challenged
Norway took the Grand Slam in the World Cup last season, with the first five places overall. Samuelsson finished ninth.
There is nothing to suggest that the Norwegians will be worse this coming winter, their mutual competition in the team keeps them on their toes.
– I think there are six or seven guys who will be very good. I hope that the rest of us step up a bit and can challenge them more than last year, that would be good, says Samuelsson.
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The World Cup starts in Kontiolax, Finland, November 30-December 8. The biggest individual goal of the year is the WC in Lenzerheide in February.
– That is the highlight. Then I want to have as good a season as possible, says Samuelsson.
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Facts Samuelsson:
Born: 28 March 1997 in Katrineholm.
Living: Östersund.
Family: Spouse Linnéa Karlsson and daughter Elsa, born in May 2024.
Club: I21 IF.
Main merits:
Gold: Relay in the 2018 Olympics, mass start in the WC 2023 and relay in the WC 2024.
Silver: Hunting start in the 2018 Olympics, hunting start in the WC 2021, relay in the WC 2021.
Bronze: Single mixed relay in WC 2019, mixed relay in WC 2021 and 2024, single mixed relay in WC 2021, pursuit start in WC 2023, distance in WC 2023.
Five individual victories in the World Cup and another 13 podiums.
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