High Expectations: Sweden Relishing Home Opener
In nineteen days, the 2025/26 BMW IBU World Cup season opens in Oestersund. The Swedish Team are relishing the opportunity to compete at home and sleep in their own beds, positives that outweigh any extra pressure that come with performing in front of your home fans.
“After the Olympics, the most important World Cup for us”
Coach Johannes Lukas admitted his team is working towards a 90% level during their two-plus week Idre snow camp. “We have to be there; a home World Cup is just waiting. Probably after the Olympics, it is the most important World Cup for us, with a lot of partners and sponsors there. There are high expectations on us in Sweden and big media expectations as well. Of course, we want to be ready, so the wrong way would be at 70%! That would be a tough start at a home World Cup.”
With that in mind, Lukas was pleased with the results from a mid-week race at Idre. “I feel pretty good after today. We had some good shooting. Anna Magnusson and Martin Ponsiluoma shot clean for first place. Hanna shot clean and Sebastian’s one miss was the difference. The competition among the girls is very close; it is a luxury to have such a deep team.”
“Everyone gets to Sleep at Home
Being under the microscope in the season’s first week is challenging, but also an advantage. “If we were in Kontiolahti, we would be a little more relaxed. It’s like a normal start; everyone is a little nervous, but the media would not focus on us. Swedish Biathlon’s profile has raised in recent years, more and more media come there. We need to do press conferences. On one hand, more stress, but on the other hand, everybody gets to sleep at home and are less stressed. The athletes spend more time at home, making the Hochfilzen and France trip quite short, two weeks. That is a really positive for us.”
The athletes see the home opener as a big plus. Elvira Oeberg appreciates the opportunity, “to stay at home for like two more weeks is a big thing because after Christmas, we will be gone for seven weeks. Starting the season sleeping in your own bed, having family and friends around you is so nice.”
Winning in Oestersund
Three of Sebastian Samuelsson’s seven career victories have come in Oestersund so he looks forward to the competitions. “It’s a place I like and know pretty well. I like the situation where I can live at home during races. I am in always in pretty good shape at the beginning of the season and a World Cup victory in December is as good as January. I think it is possible to win there this season. Then people will say, ‘He is in too good shape so early in the Olympic season.’ I will say it doesn’t matter!”
Even with a few downsides, the Swedish squad relishes the opportunity to open the season in Oestersund.
Photos: IBU/Per Danielsson, Svenskt Skidskytte/Emma Hoglund
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