Hanna Oeberg fights back to claim individual biathlon world title ahead of compatriot Linn Persson

BySportsbeat

Published 15/02/2023 at 20:25 GMT

Hanna Oeberg defied the odds to climb 32 places and win her second individual biathlon world title ahead of compatriot Linn Persson. The Swede was joined on the podium by compatriot Linn Persson with Lisa Vittozzi beating our her Italian teammate Samuela Comola for bronze. Oeberg and Persson each jumped up a podium from the 7.5km sprint race earlier in the Championships.

Highlights: Oeberg fights back to claim individual biathlon world title

Hanna Oeberg mounted an incredible comeback to secure her second 15km individual biathlon World Championship title in Oberhof.

The Swede was joined on the podium by compatriot Linn Persson with Lisa Vittozzi beating our her Italian teammate Samuela Comola for bronze.

Oeberg and Persson each jumped up a podium from the 7.5km sprint race earlier in the Championships, while Vittozzi added individual bronze mixed relay silver.

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Sweden's Oeberg picked up a penalty on the first prone shoot to see her drop down to 33rd place in the standings, but she did not drop her head.

The 27-year-old 2018 Olympic champion started to claw her way back as she shot clean for the rest of the race while early leader Vittozzi and Persson battled it out at the front of the race.

With the last standing stage in sight, Oeberg had moved up to fifth position but still had 44 seconds to make up on Persson and Vittozzi.

The gap to the Italian closed as Vittozzi missed her first shot of the day before Oeberg roared past both her competitors on the final loop to win by 10.3 seconds from Persson.

Oeberg said: "I really cannot believe it. Before the competition today, I felt like it would be a really hard day, I will probably suffer a lot.

"I did not know that I would feel really fast in my legs. I kept my focus after the first miss in the first prone, but I still felt pretty confident.

"I did a really good job on the range after that. It is special to be able to do this on the day five years since the first Gold in Pyeongchang!"

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