Sweden Clinches Women's Biathlon Relay Victory in Kontiolax with Stellar Performances by Öberg Sisters

Sweden won the women's biathlon relay in Kontiolax on March 8, 2026, delivering a commanding performance led by Hanna Öberg and her sister Elvira Öberg. The Swedish team secured their second relay victory of the season, finishing over 40 seconds ahead of France, with Norway taking third place.

Hanna Öberg was the pivotal figure, delivering a flawless shooting performance and rapid skiing that established a commanding lead. At the third leg, she was neck and neck with Norway and France, but managed to create a gap of more than 30 seconds before handing off to Elvira Öberg. Hanna expressed relief and satisfaction, saying it felt good to get revenge after a disappointing previous race where she had six missed shots in a mass start.

Elvira Öberg closed the race strongly despite requiring two extra shots in her final shooting round. She celebrated the win by waving a Swedish flag and bowing to the crowd at the finish line. The other team members, Linn Gestblom and Anna Magnusson, also performed solidly, contributing to Sweden’s nearly flawless shooting—using only four extra rounds across the team in total.

This victory marked Sweden’s 11th relay win in the women's Biathlon World Cup and came amid a successful week, including Elvira’s individual distance victory and strong placements in other events. Although France’s second-place finish secured them the overall relay cup, Sweden’s performance confirmed their status as top contenders.

The team now looks ahead to upcoming competitions in Otepää, Estonia, before the World Cup concludes in Holmenkollen. Swedish biathlon expert Mona Brorsson praised Hanna Öberg’s leg as “completely perfect,” underscoring the high level of team effort that led to this significant win.