PHOTO: Bildbyrån
Stina Nilsson has had a very tough start to the season.
And thus forced to receive harsh criticism from all sides.
Now the Swede fights back and opens up about her feelings.
The fourth season that the biathlete has had a nightmare start to Stina Nilsson. The 30-year-old has had to fight against serious headwinds and the disappointment has been total.
Stina’s disappointment
The World Cup weekend in Östersund didn’t get any better either, as the Swede finished in 69th place in Friday’s sprint race, which led to her missing the start of the pursuit on Sunday. The hopes were still good and Nilsson started with a good ride and then it was a flat fall directly in the first shot.
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Stina missed four out of five shots and after that the uphill was far too steep.
– I have to process this, because I’m not used to missing four shots and not understanding why. Often you can miss and understand that it was a bad launch, or that you are lying low. But I thought everyone felt good. There was no indication that I was going to screw up. So it was really a very boring start to the whole thing, Stina Nilsson told Expressen on Friday and admitted that she will have a meeting with her shooting coach.
– A lot of people die after the prone shooting, you shouldn’t underestimate what it’s like to ride four penalty rounds. You don’t give up, but there is a lot of “spirit” that remains in the round. But I’m not someone who breaks, I’ll wear crutches to break a race.
Criticism of Nilsson
When the results were again not forthcoming this season, the criticism has picked up again and many have had opinions about Stina in recent weeks. Several experts have raised their voices because it is time to poke her from the World Cup.
– It is the experts’ job to think. As long as I am asked if I regret my change, I will always say that I do not regret it, says Nilsson to the evening newspaper and fights back.
– I’m really tired of that talk, but at the same time it’s good that it keeps interest in the sport alive. And I know why it is written, it is because it is interesting.
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Stina Nilsson tries to take all the harsh words towards her in stride. And at the same time focus on continuing development to become a better biathlete.
– As a person, I feel good about throwing myself into things that feel a little shaky. The memories I create here and now I will take with me to the retirement home.
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