“Is his problem”
Biathlon star is stored against competitors
29.01.2025 – 9:22 a.m.Reading time: 2 min.
The biathlon World Cup is imminent. A Swedish athlete proposed a change of rule, which was raised by a opponent.
The World Cup comes after the World Cup: The competitions in Antholz are over, now the biathlon World Cup in Lenzerheide (February 12th to 23rd) is pending in Switzerland. Before the fight for the medals, the mood in the teams is tense. This can also be seen in small taunts.
Norway is allowed to go to the World Cup with six starters, while other nations start with four biathletes. The Swedish top performer Sebastian Samuelsson said the Norwegian public service broadcasting NRK: “It is a bit strange that the Norwegians have six from the start, while everyone else has four.”
What Samuelsson thinks is that according to the rules of the International Biathlon Union (IBU), four athletes can start per nation. However, if a nation has more than four athletes among the top 15 in the overall World Cup, it can set a fifth starter. In addition, the nation of the reigning world champion can nominate another athlete.
Norway currently has five biathletes among men in the overall World Cup among the top 15th Sturla Holm Laegreid, the rating leads to his team -mate Johannes Thingnes Bö. Vebjörn Sörum is in seventh place, in the twelfth place Martin Uldal and two ranks behind it is Endre Strömsheim.
Samuelsson is part of the IBU athletes. He proposed to change the rule and explained: “It is not unfair because the Norwegians are so good. But it is a rule that should be discussed.” When asked by NRK, whether he wanted to take the topic with the IBU on the next appointment, he replied: “Yes, I will. I think we should talk about it.”
At the World Cup last year Laegreid voted the winner in the sprint, Böi won the title in the persecution, in singles and in mass start. Only the men’s relay could not win Norway, Sweden displaced in second place.
Strömsheim got upset about the proposal to change the standard of Samuelsson and teased: “I think everyone who loves top sport wants to achieve the highest possible level. If ‘Sebbe’ is afraid of the competition, it is his problem.”
Johannes Thingnes Bö cannot understand the demand of the Sweden, emphasized that the rule was “correct” and appeased: “There will be no overdose of Norwegians in this field.”