PHOTO: Bildbyrån
Martin Ponsiluoma is having his best season in his career.
But the WC hero is now opening up about the hatred towards him.
– It settles in one’s head, “Ponsi” admits to SVT.
The biathlon season is coming to an end and this weekend the World Cup will finish with the conclusion in Holmenkollen, Norway. For the Swedish part, it is already clear that Sebastian Samuelsson stands above the competitions on the disease and therefore lies the men’s hope Martin Ponsiluoma.
Ponsiluoma’s success
The 27-year-old is heading towards his best season in his career at the World Cup and recently it was both WC silver and WC bronze in Oberhof for the Swede. Ahead of the VC finish in Norway, Ponsiluoma stands on three individual podiums and should he take one more, he will break a new personal record with the most podiums in a season in the World Cup.
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The WC hero is really looking forward to the finish, which starts already on Thursday with sprint races in Holmenkollen.
– I’m really busy. You are usually a bit tired at the end of the season, but I think it still feels really good, says Ponsiluoma at a press conference.
READ MORE: WC hero Linn Persson has now had enough – is forced to make a drastic decision immediately after the season: “There are plans for it”
Hatred of “Ponsi”
But it was a tough season for a long time for the Swedish biathlete who had to fight to get it right. During the World Cup weekends in Ruhpolding and Pokljuka, he only came in 20th place at best in the World Cup and it became psychologically difficult for “Ponsi”, who during the tough time had to receive personal attacks on social media.
– You do your best all the time and you end up trying too much. I was a little afraid to shoot. I hesitated all the time on the shooting range, he said in an interview with SVT Sport.
– And then it becomes easy when you get home to open your mobile phone and read comments that you are completely useless. It’s something that sticks in your head somehow.
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The hatred against him on social media left a deep mark on Martin Ponsiluoma, who had to fight hard to find his confidence again.
– If you have had a bad period, it is easy to get hung up on such things and not on the positive, he admits at the press conference before Holmenkollen.
READ MORE: The Swedish expert’s great surprise after the shock news from Norway: “Very surprising”
After the form turned and points upwards again, self-confidence has also returned and the 27-year-old has neglected to read the negative accusations against him.
– Now at the end I haven’t read anything but just focused on myself and run my race. It has been a winning concept, says Ponsiluoma with a smile.
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