Elvira Öberg came to the Biathlon World Cup in Oberhof, Germany, as one of Sweden’s big medal hopes after three individual World Cup victories earlier in the season.
But after the 16th place in the sprint just over a week ago, the 23-year-old suffered a cold. She missed both the pursuit start and the distance race and has had to watch Sweden’s successful WC from the sidelines – until Saturday’s relay.
Together with Linn Persson, Anna Magnusson and older sister Hanna Öberg, she won a Swedish bronze behind Italy and Germany.
“As recently as this morning, I wasn’t even sure if I would be able to start. It feels like a victory for me to get this medal. It makes an incredibly big difference compared to if I had had to go home empty-handed, she says.
The medal was Elvira Öberg’s first in a WC context. Whether she runs the women’s mass start over 12.5 kilometers on Sunday is uncertain.
“It doesn’t feel good,” she says with a laugh after the relay bronze and continues:
— I really get to fight. But it’s good skis and front bones that allow me to get around.