Martin Ponsiluoma arrived in Munich with down-to-earth ambitions — reaching a single final at the Loop One Festival would have been enough. Instead, the Swede left with a perfect sweep: two qualification wins and both Super Sprint titles, including a photo-finish thriller over Norway's Johan-Olav Smoerdal Botn. The moment wasn't lost on his rivals — Vetle Sjaastad Christiansen, second in the second Super Sprint, serenaded him with a victory song: "This is how the winners look . . ." In this interview, Ponsiluoma talks about the sprint that almost got away, why roller biathlon rewards raw power over technique, and how his shooting form has him brimming with confidence for winter.

Biathlonworld (BW): Martin, you achieved a flawless sweep in Munich by winning both your qualification heats and both Super Sprint finals. Did you anticipate this level of dominance heading into the season opener, or did the results exceed your own expectations?

Martin Ponsiluoma (MP): I did not think I would do this great. It's a really hard race to even qualify, so before, I just had the goal to reach one final so I would not be too disappointed if I didn't. So winning all races was far above my expectations.

BW: Saturday's final came down to an incredibly tight photo finish against Norway's Johan-Olav Smoerdal Botn. What was going through your mind in those final meters, and how did it feel to narrowly edge him out?

MP: I really believed Johan-Olav was not going to fight for the win, as the track on most parts is relatively narrow and it is difficult to try to overtake. So I felt secure — but then suddenly I felt, "oh shit, he is going for it," so I had to push a little extra, and luckily I was first. It felt great to beat him when I know how strong he has been all summer.

BW: The Loop One Festival brings a unique energy to roller biathlon outside the traditional winter calendar. How do you adjust your tactical approach on asphalt compared to competing on snow in the winter World Cup?

MP: I think everyone is much stronger on roller skis, and it's really hard to gain seconds on a flat loop, so I just try to spare as much energy as possible. On snow it's easier when there are different conditions and you have to trust your technique. On asphalt you just have to push. But on snow it can really make a difference.

BW: Despite dealing with three penalty loops during Saturday's race, your explosive skiing pace kept you at the front. How are you feeling about your shooting form and physical conditioning as you transition toward the winter season?

MP: I'm very happy about my shape and shooting shape right now. I believe I have done really great work all summer, so I just have to trust in that. I will just keep on doing good work going forward. I don't need to do something crazy — I'm on a good way both in shooting and skiing.

BW: With the Swedish squad seeing great results in Munich — including podiums from Elvira Oeberg and Anna Magnusson — how does this collective success impact the team atmosphere and training intensity moving forward?

MP: I think it's a really good recipe for the whole team, with the good results. Everyone is doing great work and will keep on pushing each other forward into the winter.

BW: Winning all four events provides a massive confidence boost. How do you carry the momentum from this summer biathlon victory in Munich directly into your primary winter goals?

MP: I'm really happy about the feeling I have now, and of course mostly about the shooting. These are really tough races to shoot in, so I'm super proud of how I did my own work in every shooting. I will keep on working with this feeling and take it with me into the winter.

Foto: IBU Pool: Jasmin Walter