Sebastian Samuelsson Sets Ambitious Goal to Challenge Johannes Thingnes Bö

Sebastian Samuelsson, the talented Swedish biathlete, is setting his sights high this winter. He aims to unseat the reigning champion, Johannes Thingnes Bö, who has dominated the competition in recent seasons.

Last year, Samuelsson earned a respectable ninth place in the overall World Cup standings, finishing an impressive 591 points behind Bö. Despite the gap, he remains optimistic and is determined to contend for the overall title this coming season.

“I have won world championship gold, I have earned medals at various championships, and I have celebrated victories in the World Cup,” Samuelsson shared with Aftonbladet, a leading Swedish newspaper. “So it feels like the next natural goal is to win the overall World Cup.”

However, the 27-year-old is realistic about the challenges ahead, admitting that the task will be "extremely difficult." He emphasized the importance of consistency, stating, “You have to perform at a high level over a long period of time.” Last season, he struggled with an illness that forced him to miss a World Cup event, impacting his performance.

Focused on Improvement
Samuelsson has dedicated much of his summer to refining his shooting skills in hopes of seriously challenging the Norwegian athletes, including Bö, who seems almost invincible on the circuit. Remarkably, the arrival of his first child in the spring has not disrupted his training regimen.

“It’s hard to know in advance how things will develop, but it has been simply wonderful,” he remarked. “I expected more compromises, but I haven't really felt that yet.”