PHOTO: Bildbyrån
Elvira Öberg had her big breakthrough last season.
Now the Olympic gold hero reveals what she hates most about biathlon.
– I think those parts are the worst, admits the Swede in an interview.
Last season was Elvira Öberg’s really big international breakthroughs at the top of the world. The 23-year-old stepped forward from the shadow of older sister Hanna Öberg and managed to have the most successful season of all Swedish biathletes when challenging the absolute world elite.
Öberg’s success
Lillasyster Öberg finished second in the overall World Cup after an impressive and even season, but the big success came at the Winter Olympics in Beijing 2022. Where the Swedish star shot left the championship in China with 3 Olympic medals, gold in the relay, silver in both sprint and pursuit start .
The article continues after the picture.
On November 12, the new biathlon season starts again with the Swedish premiere in Idre, and then the goal is clear for Elvira Öberg. She wants to win the overall World Cup and has taken a lot of lessons from the Olympics.
– I would say that what I have learned the most is that it is about regular competitions, even though there is so much else going on all around. Among other things, the fact that everyone lives in the Olympic village. But the competitions, the opponents and the size of the goals we shoot at are the same as we find in the World Cup. Another lesson is to make sure to stay focused and calm throughout the Olympics, a state I want to maintain in this winter’s WC and in the next Olympics. But at the end of the day, it’s about the same type of biathlon that I practice every day. It’s all about being able to control the pressure on yourself, she says in a long interview with the Italian winter sports magazine Fondo Italia.
READ MORE: The new pictures of the Olympic gold hero Jonna Sundling, who is spreading fear throughout Norway: “She scares me…”
“It’s the worst”
Öberg is also asked who she sees as her biggest rivals in the upcoming World Cup season.
– Marte Olsbu Röiseland won last year and will perform at a high level again this winter, but Denise Herrmann is getting better and better every season. Lisa Therese Hauser also had a good season last year and she can take another step forward. But there are many more girls who will be able to compete for the crystal ball next season, says the Swede in the interview.
The article continues after the picture.
In addition, the Olympic gold hero gets to answer the unexpected question about what she thinks is the worst thing about biathlon.
– It’s that it always takes a long time. If you have a 2-2.5 hour workout, you will be here for longer than that. You have to prepare the rifle, set the sights and so on. This means that it takes longer than, for example, cross-country skiing. Another thing is if the weather is bad and you still have to lie down on the soaked carpet to shoot. I think those parts are the worst, says Elvira Öberg to the Italian magazine.
How do you think things are going for Elvira Öberg? Share the article and have your say!
READ MORE: The Swedish star’s explanation – that’s why she appeared in the most unexpected outfit: “There have been few comments…”