Biathlon: Hanna Öberg’s Battle – ‘My Thoughts Drift Where I Don’t Want Them To’

Hanna Öberg, one of Sweden’s top biathletes, is facing a mental battle more than a physical one as she works to reverse a negative trend in her performance. In an intense interview with SVT Sport, Öberg explains that while her skiing form feels solid, her shooting – the crucial part of biathlon – has been inconsistent, leading to missed shots and finishes outside the top ten in individual races.

Reflecting on her season, she reveals that her analysis has shown a gap between her desire to perform and her execution at the shooting range. “I want to catch my thoughts when they start drifting to places I don’t want them to be,” she explains. With the World Championships and relay events looming, Öberg is focusing on strategies to relax and think less during competition, hoping that a stronger mental approach will turn her season around.

Her candid admission highlights not only the physical demands of biathlon but also the critical importance of mental strength in high-stakes international competition.