The last few days at the Biathlon World Championships were special for Norwegian Vetle Sjåstad Christiansen. The 30-year-old had to cope with a private stroke of fate around the relay race on Saturday, in which silver was awarded at the end.
Two days before Vetle Sjåstad Christiansen’s season started, his grandmother died at the age of 93. No wonder then that it was anything but easy for the ski hunter to concentrate on his mission in Oberhof.
“Of course it’s very sad when something like this happens, especially when you’re travelling. Both me and my mother are here,” admitted Christiansen after Saturday’s race on the “NRK” microphone.
The fact that it was only enough for second place behind France quickly became a minor matter for the experienced biathlete. “It’s very, very difficult when someone close to you dies. Every now and then you get very sad,” he said.
At the same time, Christiansen emphasized that he was more than “grateful” for the years he spent with his grandmother: “She was 93 years old. Not everyone is so lucky.”
After all, the professional athlete can now say goodbye to his grandmother in person: The funeral will take place the week after the World Cup, i.e. at a time that Christiansen wanted to spend in his home country anyway.
Biathlon World Cup: No relay gold for Christiansen, Bø and Co.
In the relay race, he had an inconsistent performance. Although the 30-year-old avoided a penalty loop, he still lost a lot of time to the competition and finally handed over to his team-mate almost a minute behind.
So Christiansen, Johannes Thingnes Bø and Co. couldn’t get more than second place on the podium. Nevertheless, the Norwegians ended the World Championships at the top of the medal table.