Elvira Öberg Struggles with Shooting Woes as She Plans Isolated Christmas to Regain Form

Swedish biathlete Elvira Öberg faced a difficult day during the recent World Cup mass start event in Annecy, finishing 19th after missing five shots, including three in her first prone shooting round. Despite showcasing the third-fastest skiing time, her shooting errors left her over a minute behind the winner, Norway's Maren Kirkeeide, who celebrated her first World Cup victory. Elvira expressed her frustration, telling Sportbladet, "It sucks," highlighting that although she felt physically fit, she couldn't translate that into effective shooting during the race.

Her sister, Hanna Öberg, also finished outside the top spots, placing 14th with four shooting misses. Swedish teammate Ella Halvarsson was the best Swedish performer in ninth place after leading mid-race but faltered with two missed shots under pressure, revealing the stress impacting their shooting accuracy.

Coach Johannes Lukas expressed dissatisfaction with the team’s overall shooting performance, stating, "We are not satisfied today; we need to do much better." He acknowledged the high competition but emphasized the need for improved shooting consistency since recent lapses have undermined the team's chances.

Adding to her challenges this season, Elvira has missed significant training due to illness, which she believes has affected her performance. As the World Cup takes a holiday break, she plans a minimal Christmas celebration to avoid illness and is prepared to isolate herself to maintain health. She said, "I will try to meet as few as possible," intending to focus on a rigorous training block post-Christmas to regain her competitive edge.

National coach Lukas is optimistic but cautious, advising Elvira to build foundational strength while avoiding overexertion. The team looks ahead to the World Cup’s return in January in Oberhof, Germany, with hopes that Elvira and her teammates can reclaim their form in time for the Olympic season.