Elvira Öberg Faces Disappointment, Focuses on Olympic Recovery
The intense competition within the Swedish biathlon team has led to a hard decision for star athlete Elvira Öberg, who was unexpectedly left out of the mixed relay team at the 2026 Winter Olympics. Öberg watched as Sweden finished fifth in the event from her hotel room.
A Tough Blow, But Team Support Prevails
“It was, of course, a huge disappointment. I had really hoped to be part of the team. It was a tough message to receive,” Öberg stated. The decision came as a surprise to many, given Öberg’s previous successes, including a world championship title in mass start and two individual medals at the previous Olympics.
Öberg immediately turned to her support network. “I started by calling Oskar (Brandt, her boyfriend),” she shared. “And then as soon as Hanna (her sister) got the news, she came and gave me a hug, which was very nice.”
Analyzing the Coaching Decision
Despite the initial setback, Öberg is focusing on the future. Head coach Johannes Lukas provided a plan to help her refocus. “I quickly had a good plan from Johannes, and then you have to motivate yourself, like ‘this is probably even better for my distance, to do this and that now instead’,” Öberg explained.
The coaching staff opted for Anna Magnusson, who has demonstrated strong performance in the tracks, alongside Hanna Öberg in the mixed relay. According to SVT Sports expert Mona Brorsson, Magnusson’s recent form was a key factor in the decision, though Öberg was also considered.
Looking Ahead to the Individual Races
Öberg is now channeling her energy into preparing for the women’s distance race on Wednesday. She acknowledges the difficulty of readjusting but remains determined. “It’s been tough. Of course, there have been some ups and downs emotionally, but I knew the best thing I could do was to focus forward and do my best to be in as good shape as possible for the distance race.”
She believes her training partners, Hanna Öberg and Anna Magnusson, performed well in the mixed relay, adding, “I know what I’ve done to them in training, so that strengthens my self-confidence.”
Linn Gestblom will join Öberg, Hanna Öberg, and Anna Magnusson in the women’s distance race, marking her return to competition after recovering from an injury.
Schedule.Upcoming Biathlon Events at the Olympics
February 10, 13:30: Distance, Men.
Swedes: Sebastian Samuelsson, Martin Ponsiluoma, Jesper Nelin, Viktor Brandt.
February 11, 14:15: Distance, Women.
Swedes: Elvira Öberg, Hanna Öberg, Anna Magnusson, Linn Gestblom.
February 13, 14:00: Sprint, Men.
February 14, 14:45: Sprint, Women.
February 15, 11:15 & 14:45: Pursuit, Women & Pursuit, Men.
February 17, 14:30: Relay, Men.
February 18, 14:45: Relay, Women.
February 20, 14:15: Mass Start, Men.
February 21, 14:15: Mass Start, Women.
Read more about Swedish athletes at the Olympics.
FAQ
- Why was Elvira Öberg left out of the mixed relay?
- Anna Magnusson’s strong performance in training led the coaching staff to select her for the mixed relay team.
- When will Elvira Öberg compete next?
- She will compete in the women’s distance race on Wednesday.
- Who are the other Swedish women competing in the distance race?
- Hanna Öberg, Anna Magnusson, and Linn Gestblom will also represent Sweden.
