Few are as strong on the ski tracks. But his shooting has been up and down. Ahead of this season, however, his shooting looks stable, and Martin Ponsiluoma goes into a new competition period with great confidence. He is also becoming a father this winter.

“It feels like I’m in a really good place in life right now,” says the 31-year-old Olympic gold medalist as the national team gathers at Idre Fjäll for the season’s kick-off camp.

Perhaps it is not so strange that he radiates harmony and confidence. When Martin Ponsiluoma crossed the finish line first in the pursuit in Milano-Cortina on February 15, he did so as Olympic champion. It came almost exactly five years after his World Championships gold in the sprint in Pokljuka. He also already has a European Championships gold on his record and has won every championship gold there is to win.

But he wants more. The drive to step onto the podium is still there.

“Competing is so incredibly fun, and you always want to do things better,” he says to Langd.se.

Double wins at the Loop One festival

This fall, he showed real stability on the shooting range when he won both super sprint races at the Loop One festival in rollerski biathlon in Munich, where a large part of the world elite was competing.

“I think I performed incredibly well both on the range and out on the course, and I’m extremely happy and proud of that weekend. I really got everything to click,” says Martin Ponsiluoma, and continues:

“You know those races can be incredibly hard to get right. It gets very hectic with such short laps and hard racing. Getting the shooting to work right then shows that I’m at a good level and in a good place.”

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Becoming a father this winter

Another source of joy is that he and Hanna Öberg are becoming parents this winter.

“It’s something you look forward to, of course, and something we have been longing for for a while now. But you don’t really know what you’re getting into.”

Read More – Olympic star reveals: Pregnant

It will be a different season for you, since Hanna will not be competing this winter. How will that be?

“It will be special, of course. During the summer and autumn, I haven’t noticed much difference, because we haven’t had that many camps this year. I’ve been able to be at home a lot, and we’ve spent most of the time together, but of course there will be a few weeks now and then when we are apart.”

The baby is due at the beginning of the winter.

“We’ll see how much I race during the first part of the season. It’s hard to plan anything, so you have to take it a bit as it comes.”

Sebbe (Sebastian Samuelsson) is already a father. Do you talk about what it’s like to be and to become a father?

“He has said it’s a fantastic feeling and that it’s a lot of fun, so of course you look forward to seeing what it will be like.”

New rules on the range: “A shock at first”

Another new thing this season is the rules on the shooting range. Athletes may not start taking off their rifle until they are on the mat, and they must have their arms through the rifle straps before they leave after a shooting.

How has it gone to relearn after so many years?

“When the rules first came, it was a bit of a shock and it felt unfamiliar at first, but now I don’t think you think about it much anymore. It didn’t take many weeks to get used to the new way. It shouldn’t be a problem. Everyone was also informed about these new rules well ahead of the season.”

Also Read – A new era for biathlon: Record numbers, new rules and sponsors, less pressure on young athletes

A summer of good shooting

How are things on the range?

“It’s always the case that you want to improve what you’re bad at, and shooting has been the big issue for me. But I think it has worked very well during the summer and fall. I’m in a very good place and have been able to do what I wanted. I’ve had very good results.”

You have a new shooting coach this season, Jonne Kähkönen. What has he meant for you?

“I think we have had a good cooperation so far.”

Has he seen any details you can change?

“It’s mostly small things that we talk through and discuss, but I haven’t really changed anything except the changes that came with the rules about the rifle and the rifle strap.”

Also Read: Swedish biathlon team for season 2026/2027

Wants to improve in the sprint

What are your own expectations for this season?

“ I don’t want to set any specific goals in that way. When I’m on the start line, I want to be fighting for podium places. I have both the speed and the shooting needed to be there.”

Martin Ponsiluoma continues:

“What I want is to do better in the sprints. I haven’t gotten out of them what I wanted in recent years. There you need to shoot clean to be in contention. We saw last winter that with the level the sprint races have reached, it’s very hard to make the podium even with one miss.”

“Dare to do what you have done in training”

Martin Ponsiluoma says he feels calm and harmonious going into the new season. His performance at the Loop One festival has contributed to that.

“I think a certain calm is needed to succeed. You shouldn’t be too nervous or feel too much tension, but be able to dare to do what you have done in training. Then you will also succeed in races.”

“Great to have new energy in the team”

A new guy is joining the national team this year, Phlip Lindkvist Flötten. What does it mean for you established athletes that a young, hungry skier has taken a place on the team?

“He comes in with a really good spirit and really wants this. He seems eager, and it’s good to get new energy into the team. Of course it’s also an inspiration for those of us who have been around for quite a while now.”

Read More: Why the top biathlon talent chose Sweden over Norway

The season opener is in Idre next weekend. What do you want to see there?

“They are not the most important races for me. We are training quite hard right now, so my form will not be at its peak. But I want to get a good feel for racing, and above all I want to shoot well and feel that I have a stable base level.”

Read More – Biathlon World Cup: Calendar for the 2026/2027 winter season 

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