Dorothea Wierer’s proposal after Hanna Öberg’s World Cup silver

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Dorothea Wierer after the distance race: “Boring, it takes too long”

Of: Andreas Käck, Linn Nordström

Published: February 16, 2021 at 3:56 p.m.
Updated: February 16, 2021 at 4:11 p.m.

POKLJUKA. Hanna Öberg struck with a new hit at a championship distance.

Then her rival Dorothea Wierer makes a proposal.

– I think we should eliminate this form of competition, he says.

When the Italian star came to the mixed zone to speak with us journalists, he first got caught up in a long discussion with an employee of the IBU (International Biathlon Federation).

What was the conversation about?

His disgust for the race he just ran.

– I suggested that we eliminate the distance competitions of the World Cup, because it is boring. It takes too long, says Wierer, who finished ninth.

Photo: Fredrik Sandberg / TT / TT NEWS AGENCY

Hanna Öberg.

The result is remarkable considering that it is she who leads the overall position in the distance race this season.

“Great respect”

Norwegian sprint specialist Tiril Eckhoff only laughs when he hears about Dorothea Wierer’s proposal.

– Haha, I like her to be the one who leads the overall, who says it… I should almost be the one to say it, says Eckhoff, who is in 27th place overall.

– I’m not a big fan of long-distance racing either, but I think it’s respect for the winner, because then you’re the ultimate biathlete, says Eckhoff.

New Öberg success

Hanna Öberg agrees.

15 kilometers of driving with four strokes is the toughest test there is.

– It’s a special competition, we don’t do it very often. A very important key is to be able to shoot well and also maintain speed up to 15 kilometers. It is the form of competition that differs the most from the others. I like to drive it, he says.

Distance racing has become his specialty in championship settings. Now he has an Olympic gold, a World Cup gold and now also a World Cup silver in the distance.

– It’s still a decent bottom line…, says Öberg.

Of course, she doesn’t want Dorothea Wierer to get away with it.

– No, I like to keep my distance, he says.

Published: February 16, 2021 at 3:56 p.m.

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