All eyes on Elvira Oeberg

After one of the most stunning breakthrough seasons by any athlete, we sat down with Elvira Oeberg during the IBU Summer Biathlon World Championships Ruhpolding 2022.

The winner of three medals from the Winter Games Beijing 2022 reflected on the Olympic season. She also looked into the 2022/2023 winter, with plenty of challenges and opportunities for the 23 years old. And revealed her favourite baking recipe.

Let’s travel back in memory. You won three medals at the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 and collected four wins in the BMW IBU World Cup. Did you expect a season like that?

I can’t say I expected such results. But I knew I improved a ton during the summer of 2021 and that winning for the first time in the BMW IBU World Cup would be possible. Three Olympic medals and second in the Total Score? That it would turn out that good? That was a bit hard to predict.

You had an exciting battle with Marte Olsbu Roeiseland for the Total Score title. What have you learned from that?

A lot. It was a totally new experience for me. In 2019/2020, I finished 24th in the world cup, and in 2020/2021, I was 12th. Last season I came second after Marte, and getting used to being on the podium was an incredible experience. It is a good feeling to get used to. Approaching the shooting range in the podium position made me quite nervous at the start of the season, but towards the end, I increasingly started to feel relaxed.

Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 was an obvious highlight last season. You won three medals and anchored the Swedish relay team to gold. What memories did you take with you?

Throughout the last season, I had the Olympic sprint in my thoughts. I felt that was the competition that I ought to deliver. I shot 10/10 and, despite having problems with the high altitude, finished second, just behind Olsbu Roeiseland. That gave me a strong shot of confidence! Taking the final leg in the women’s relay - where Sweden was the favourite - was no easy task either. I am proud of the way I handled the pressure. I shared a gold medal with Hanna. That our family now has two Olympic champions is quite crazy.

Which is your favourite format?

Sprint. It is a lot of skiing and less shooting. The relays are fun because of the different dynamics. But,  if I have to pick one, it is a sprint.

Your shooting position preference: prone or standing?

Standing. It comes much more naturally to me. I feel more in control of the moves. It is a hit or miss for me in the standing. In the prone, you think about the positioning on the mat. You wonder where to put the riffle, your body. It is more complex, for sure.

Which are your favourite tracks?

Oestersund. And not just because it is my home turf. It suits my skiing style as it has many climbs and downhills, curves, and turns. You need to work with the track to be successful.

And the most demanding tracks?

Oberhof with its often challenging weather conditions and famous climb Birxsteig. And Antholz-Anterselva because of the attitude. I struggle there as I can’t recover on the downhills as much as I am used to from other venues.

What have you learned about yourself in 2021/2022?

I have learned that I am a self-confident individual and athlete who can stay calm under pressure.

What is your main goal for the 2022/2023 season?

I will aim for the Total Score title. And I still don’t have a medal from the IBU World Championships.

In your free time, what do you do?

I am a nature person and love spending my time in the Swedish mountains. I like to bake.

And your favourite baking recipe?

Kladdkaka. It is a gooey chocolate cake, which takes just 20 minutes to bake. It is very uncomplicated and delicious.