PHOTO: Bildbyrån
From heaven to hell – back to heaven again.
The biathlete Johanna Skottheim was open about her heavy years after the shocking fifth place in Ruhpolding, Germany.
– I haven’t been feeling very well, the 30-year-old says to SVT.
It was in German Ruhpolding that Johanna Skottheim five years ago took a surprising fourth place in the pursuit start in the World Cup, but it was never the start of anything big.
Skottheim admits
Rather, the last few seasons have been characterized by darkness, says the 30-year-old.
– It has been pure hell if I’m honest. I don’t want anyone to have to go through those years, she says and continues:
– That I get to stand here today and be at this level again, that I have fought my way back and have gone my own way this year and still be here. It’s so big.
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She says after the flawless shooting and fifth place in the distance race over 15 kilometers that she has not been feeling well in recent years.
– I worked out and continued to push myself hard even though my body gave up. My condition also became all the worse, in the end you were at the bottom of the bottom. The fact that I didn’t give up is what I stand here and am most proud of.
“To the top again”
This season, Skottheim started in the IBU Cup – the level below the World Cup – but had to run the World Cup again in mid-December after illness in the national team.
Now she became the best Swede in Ruhpolding.
– I made the journey from the bottom to the top again.
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Elvira Öberg was third overall in the World Cup before the distance race, but with two barriers the 25-year-old could not challenge for a podium place.
– It’s a shame the boom is in second place. Distance is generally not my favorite competition, but I still run a stable race, says Elvira Öberg to SVT.
Öberg was seventh
The French Lou Jeanmonnot – second overall – was superior (full shooting) and won by just over 36 seconds ahead of the World Cup leader Franziska PrussiaGermany. Third was Amy BasergaSwitzerland. Elvira Öberg finished seventh and was 1.30 minutes behind Jeanmonnot.
– With 19 hits I would have been second, it would have been even more fun. 90 percent (shooting accuracy) and second ride time, I’m happy with that, says Elvira Öberg.
Ella Halvarsson ended nia (a boom) and Hanna Öberg ten (two). Anna Magnusson (three misses) finished 30th and Anna-Karin Heijdenberg (four) finished 53rd.
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