Finland’s Suvi Minkkinen, one of last season’s breakout stars, took another hug step today, winning the Oestersund Women’s 7.5 km Sprint, the first World Cup victory in the 201st start in her 12-year biathlon career. Minkkinen, on fire from the start jumped into the lead with a clean prone, following up with a speedy second loop, five perfect standing shots, maintaining her quick tempo up until finishing in 20:11.9. Minkkinen’s win moved her into the Yellow Bib, another career first, making her only the second Finnish women to wear Yellow after Kaisa Makarainen.

“Stronger with skis…expecting more from myself”

Minkkinen’s win came15 years and 2 days after Mäkäräinen’s first-ever win, ironically also in the Oestersund Sprint. The 30-year-old was all smiles, “I am really happy. My first thought when I crossed the finish line was of how I did it today. The individual was a little bit tough, knowing I am stronger with the skis and expecting more from myself, so it was little bit hard to get the focus right. Performing and not only thinking about the results. Today I was able to come back to how I do the race and I am just so proud.”

Wearing Yellow, “I think it’s crazy!”

Today’s leading lady, giddy with excitement at the prospect of wearing Yellow in the pursuit blurted, “I just heard this and I think it is crazy! It’s my 9th season (in the World Cup), going out first in the pursuit is something new, but if I have the Yellow…that’s crazy! Let’s see how I can handle it!”

The home team’s Anna Magnusson, after leading much of the afternoon, also shot clean but finished second, 16.6 seconds back, the Swede’s second-best result of her career. France’s Oceane Michelon, also perfect on the range, equaled the second-best result of her career in third, 20.8 seconds back.

Austria’s Lisa Theresa Hauser shot clean in fourth, 29.5 seconds back, her best result since winning the Annecy Le Grand Bornand Mass Start in almost 3 years ago. Elvira Oeberg with a single penalty finished fifth, 44.5 seconds back. Poland’s Joanna Jakiela shooting clean, had a huge personal best with her first Flower Ceremony in sixth place, 47.1 seconds back, improving from her previous best 11th here in 2024.

Photos: IBU/Per Danielsson, Christian Manzoni, Nordic Focus