With that positive outlook, the question becomes: Can the 28-year-old vie for the World Cup Total Score, win his second Olympic Gold medal and stand atop the podium once again at home in Oestersund?

Tenth World Cup Season

It seems like Samuelsson should be much older, going into his tenth World Cup season and third Olympic Winter Games, but he moved into the World Cup circus as a youthful 18-year-old. The Swede has contended for the World Cup Total Score over most of the Johannes Thingnes Boe era. Now that JT has retired, Samuelsson thinks winning will be just as hard…with qualifications.

“It will be easier, but you need a lot of motivation to win it. I think that maybe he quit because he could not win. I do not think he would win this year if he raced, but he could if he trained hard, because he was the best biathlete. When Marin Fourcade retired, everyone said it would be easy for Johannes. Even though he won many Total Scores, it was not easy, He had fights with Sturla (Holm Laegreid) in particular.”

“Stupid to say Sturla is not the favorite”

As for Laegreid, “He has been so consistent, but I find it hard to see him dominating in the same way. The race dynamics will be a lot different without Johannes. But Sturla won last year, and it would be stupid to say he is not the favorite. I think Eric (Perrot) is one of the main contenders. Tommy (Giacomel) on his highest level is really good, but like me has to improve some things, like standing shooting. But you never know, someone fixes all their problems and becomes really good and it could all change.”

Olympic Gold and Total Score

The two-time Olympic medalist called the choice between winning the Total Score and an Olympic Gold medal in Antholz, “The 10,000-dollar question! I think the Total Score is a bigger achievement. But I also think if you can win the Total Score, you should be able to win an Olympic Gold medal. I would be surprised if the person who wins the Total Score does not win an Olympic Gold medal.”