WC BRONZE! Sebastian Samuelsson’s new medal success – third in the distance race after the huge drama against Norway

Leksand extended the winning streak beat AIK

The success continues.
Sebastian Samuelsson salvaged yet another medal in the WC.
The star came third in the distance race – after great drama.

Hopes were high for Sebastian Samuelsson when he started this year’s Biathlon World Championships. Samuelsson has proven that he is the best when it matters, and that is why it was so surprising how he started the championship in Germany.

Great success

In the mixed relay, Samuelsson had six misses in his first shooting, and it cost Sweden a top position in the competition. Samuelsson’s first WC competition in Oberhof ended in tears, but revenge came quickly. After finishing eleventh in the sprint, the star made a great effort when he caught up eight places and was third in the chase start.

230207 Sebastian Samuelsson of Sweden poses for a portrait at a press event with Sweden ahead of the IBU Biathlon World Championships on February 7, 2023 in Oberhof. Photo: Mathias Bergeld / BILDBYRÅN / code MB / MB0529

It was clear evidence that the form was indeed there, and Tuesday’s distance race started very well. Samuelsson was at the top in ride time when he entered the first shooting, where he shot full. Samuelsson also shot full in the second shooting, and when the big favorite Johannes Thingnes Bö had missed, Samuelsson was in the lead.

READ MORE: The Swedish national team’s unexpected love coup for worst rival Norway – on Valentine’s Day: “So nicely done”

The giant drama

Into the third shooting, however, Bö had, despite his boom, caught up. But the Norwegian missed a shot again – and lost valuable time. In the third shooting, however, Samuelsson also had a miss, and he was thus fourth when one shooting remained. Samuelsson needed to shoot fully to have a chance at medals, fighting against Sturla Holm Laegreid, Quentin Fillon Maillet and Thingnes Bö.

230212 Sebastian Samuelsson of Sweden celebrates after men’s pursuit during the IBU Biathlon World Championships on February 12, 2023 in Oberhof. Photo: Mathias Bergeld / BILDBYRÅN / code MB / MB0545

Sebastian Samuelsson managed to keep his nerves in check in the last shooting – and he only had one miss in all four shooting. From the last shot, Samuelsson was third, with less than a second’s margin to fourth. It was a super drama about the podium places – where Samuelsson fought for second place against Sturla Holm Laegreid.

In the end, Samuelsson was only 0.4 seconds behind Laegreid, who finished second. Johannes Thingnes Bö won – for the fourth time in four competitions this championship.

– Sebastian is doing fantastically well, says coach Johannes Lukas.

READ MORE: Norwegian icon Ole Einar Björndalen’s huge criticism of Sweden – saw the decision about Stina Nilsson: “Ridiculous”

spbln-sports