Biathlon: Elvira Öberg Leads Relay Team to Podium Finish: "Nothing Came Easy"

In the women’s relay event, Elvira Öberg started fifth and successfully propelled the Swedish team to a third-place finish during the 4x6 km relay at Hochfilzen. She expressed that it was crucial to remain calm and not rush while competing. Despite missing one shot in the last leg, Öberg managed to overtake teams from Switzerland and Bulgaria. The relay debuted two new team members, Anna-Karin Heijdenberg and Ella Halvarsson, who faced their challenges but contributed to the overall success.

Anna Magnusson had a challenging first leg, needing extra shots, and finishing in 12th place initially. Heijdenberg struggled with her shooting, leading to a penalty round. However, she managed to secure the team’s standing with Halvarsson delivering a strong leg with perfect shooting. The relay was ultimately won by Germany, marking their first victory in four years. Sweden celebrated their third place amidst tough competition, reflecting on the hard work each athlete put in to earn the podium spot.

The full results for the women’s 4x6 km relay at Hochfilzen were:

1) Germany (Vanessa Voigt, Julia Tannheimer, Selina Grotian, Franziska Preuss) 1:16:13.7 (0-4) 2) France (Julia Simon, Justine Braisaz-Bouchet, Sophie Chauveau, Lou Jeanmonnot) +1:05.7 (1-13) 3) Sweden (Anna Magnusson, Anna-Karin Heijdenberg, Ella Halvarsson, Elvira Öberg) +1:31.8 (1-6)