Elvira Öberg Clinches First World Cup Sprint Victory of 2026 Season in Oberhof

Swedish biathlete Elvira Öberg secured her first World Cup victory of the 2026 season on January 8 by winning the sprint event in Oberhof. Demonstrating flawless shooting and a powerful finish, Öberg crossed the line 21 to 22 seconds ahead of her nearest competitors. This win marks her twelfth individual World Cup triumph and her first podium of the season.

During the sprint race, Elvira shot perfectly in both prone and standing positions, a crucial factor that set her apart from her sister Hanna Öberg, who struggled with two missed shots in the standing stage and finished outside the top ten. Elvira made her move after the second shooting stage, overcoming a 5-second deficit to pull ahead decisively in the final lap.

Öberg attributed her success to a new mental approach developed in consultation with her sports psychologist. She shared that listening to an audiobook during warm-up helped her maintain focus on skiing and avoid overthinking — a factor she said had previously limited her performances in sprint competitions.

Finishing second was Finnish athlete Suvi Minkkinen, while Hanna Öberg reflected on her performance, acknowledging she "didn't give herself the chance in the best way," although she added she had a stable start and overall race.

NRK's biathlon expert Ola Lunde praised Elvira’s performance, noting the impressive turnaround after a challenging start to the season.

Looking ahead, the women's World Cup will continue in Oberhof with a relay event scheduled for Saturday, followed by a pursuit race on Sunday based on the sprint results, where Elvira Öberg will look to build on her momentum.