Minkkinen’s 3rd Place Lit Finnish Biathlon Spectators: ”Massive Ecstasy”

Czech Marketa Davidova cleared the race without penalties and celebrated victory 8,8 seconds ahead of Swedish Elvira Oeberg. Oeberg missed two shots.

Suvi Minkkinen cleaned both stages and took a fantastic third place, scoring her career first podium in an individual race. She finished 11,9 seconds behind the winner.

– The going on the track was great all around. To be honest, the last wall climb was a tad scary, because I had pretty much given everything I had already before then. Then, I just tried to fight my way to the finish, and fortunately, it was enough. It was really cool to clean both shootings. This crowd is in massive ecstasy, they gave me strength on the stadium and in the uphill, praised Minkkinen.

She reached the podium in Single Mixed Relay with Otto Invenius last season, but  admitted that the individual event podium was “still a bit of a surprise”.

- I thought I might be able to fight for a place in the top 6 if I get a top performance.

It was cool that it was enough for the podium, said Minkkinen and added she gained an extra boost from her success.

Davidova, 27, celebrated victory last time in Oestersund three years ago, and her last podium placement took place two years ago.

- I almost forgot how it is to be on the podium, said a happy Davidova.

She started early in the race with bib number 24, and figured she would place “tenth or something”.

The victory means a lot to her.

Leinamo scores career first World Cup points: ”I am very happy”

Finnish Sonja Leinamo also succeeded, scoring her first ever World Cup points. She missed only one shot in standing.

- Shooting went really well, I am very satisfied. The track was a bit stickier than last time, but not bad at all. I am satisfied with the skiing, too, said Leinamo.

The first World Cup points in her career mean a lot to her:

- My goal this year was to score some points. Having got them with such a god shooting makes me very happy, said Leinamo.

Venla Lehtonen had a great race until the standing stage. There, she missed three shots and finished 74th.

Inka Hamalainen got three penalties and finished 77th.

Original text in Finnish: Heidi Lehikoinen
Translation into English: Hanna Sairanen