Ella Halvarsson was one of the big surprises of the last biathlon season. The Swede says it is unclear whether she can repeat her successes again a few weeks before the start of the World Cup.
Ella Halvarsson is definitely “nervous” before the start of the new biathlon season, as the 26-year-old told “SVT Sport”. Because: Especially in their home country of Sweden, expectations have increased significantly after the successes in the 2024/25 season.
But the real pressure comes from “from within,” says Halvarsson: “After last season went so well, it’s clear that the expectations of myself have also increased. You want to be at least as good as last year, but ideally better.”
The ski hunter added: “And of course there is a certain concern that you won’t be able to do it.”
Halvarsson only made her World Cup debut last season after previously competing in the second-tier IBU Cup. Right from her first start in Kontiolahti, Finland, she took first place in the single mixed relay, shortly afterwards she followed up with second place in the shortened individual competition.
Biathlon trainer convinced: next step forward
In Hochfilzen (fourth place in the pursuit, third place in the relay) and in Ruhpolding (ninth place in the individual, fifth place in the relay) she followed up with further top 10 results before she was able to achieve another victory with the Swedish relay in Antholz. The big highlight finally came at the World Championships in Lenzerheide, when she won the silver medal in the individual after a flawless shooting performance. She also won World Cup bronze with the relay.
In her debut season in the World Cup, she ultimately finished 18th overall and sixth in the individual ranking.
Her German national coach Johannes Lukas is now firmly convinced that the Swede will also be able to impress in 2025/26. “Of course, a lot will be different. We have talked about different scenarios and are well prepared, but we also want to continue to have fun. I think she had a good autumn and am convinced that she will take a step forward this winter too,” he told “SVT”.