Nothing goes Mari Eder’s way in the WC. In today’s distance race, she had big problems on the fence and missed a total of eight shots. For Suvi Minkkinen, the shots were where they should be and then it was a placement among the top ten.
The slump is deep for Mari Eder in the WC. In the sprint she failed completely and in the pursuit start she was not even allowed to line up.
In today’s distance race, there was a chance for promotion, but the race turned out to be a cakewalk. Eder missed and finished in 62nd place.
– There were too many barriers and I can’t say why it happens. I have been working on shooting since the beginning of the season and managed to improve, but I have not experienced anything like this before, says Eder to Yle.
Eder’s race went awry straight away when she incurred two penalty minutes in the first prone shooting – and then she could not stop the negative spiral. There were two barriers at each shooting station after that.
– This is very upsetting, says Eder.
Mari Eder missed a total of eight shots in the distance race.
Image: IMAGO/Eibner/All Over Press
Biathlon, Mari Eder
The minkkin shot full
Suvi Minkkinen, on the other hand, made an excellent effort. The Minkkin was the safety himself on the rampart and managed without penalty minutes. She took her best finish in her career when she finished in eighth place.
– It was a tough race, but the feeling is very good. Since the WC camp, the national team captain has emphasized that it is only the mental thing that can stop me from shooting fully in the distance race. Now apparently I decided to do it.
The minkkin also admits that the nerves were put to the test.
– I was tense at the end but felt like I held it together well. In the first standing I shook but luckily the finger didn’t react to it. It was the only shot that could have gone through, says a happy Minkkinen.
Union captain Erik Kulstad was also very satisfied with Minkkinen’s performance.
– I am so proud that she is able to do this on the biggest stage. She’s been close in the past and it’s great to see her do this now. It is a great joy, he says.
Two Swedish medals
The distance race became a big party for Sweden. Hanna Öberg won the gold and Linn Persson took care of the silver.
Öberg had a boom but was faster in the track than Persson who shot full. Öberg’s margin of victory was 10.3 seconds in the end.
– This is absolutely fantastic. I managed to stay focused on the embankment. I was told that I was behind Linn on the last lap but that I was also closing in on her.
– I wanted to take this chance and the gold as I was so close in the sprint, says Öberg.
Lisa Vittozzi took care of the bronze but was on her way to something better. She hit her first 19 shots but missed the last one. The Italian lost by 28 seconds to Öberg.
Results:
1. Hanna Öberg SWE 43.36.1 (1)
2. Linn Persson SWE +10.3 (0)
3. Lisa Vittozzi ITA +28.0 (1)
4. Samuela Comola ITA +48.5 (0)
5. Julia Simon FROM +1.21.7 (3)
6. Tuuli Tominga’s EST +2.23,4
———–
8. Suvi Minkkinen FIN +2.43,9 (0)
54. Erika Jänkä FIN +7.17,2 (3)
60. Nastassia Kinnunen FIN +8.33,5 (6)
62. Mari Eder FIN +8.45,5 (8)
