Sebastian Samuelsson has eased the pressure. His rifle is more than half a kilo lighter than in recent seasons. “I have a rifle that suits me much better now,” says the former world champion. But he is critical of the new rule on the shooting range.

Sebastian Samuelsson has 14 international medals on his impressive record. But it has been a few years since he won an individual medal. The last time was at the 2023 World Championships in Oberhof, where he won gold in the mass start and also took bronze medals in the sprint and the individual. However, the World Championships in Otepää are not his main goal this season.

“Winning the overall World Cup is actually a bigger goal for me. It is a tough challenge, and we will see how the season develops, but that is what I am aiming for most.”

It has been 33 years since a Swedish man won the overall World Cup. That was Mikael Löfgren. What will it take for you to succeed?

“I have been in the top three twice, and then I think you are close. But I need to hit more shots to win the overall title.”

Last season, he finished fourth in the overall World Cup.

A big change

One big change he has made for this season is switching the stock on his rifle. The old rifle weighed almost 4.2 kilos. The new one weighs just under 3.7. He has made the change at the same time as new rules on how the rifle must be handled on the shooting range come into force.

“There were a lot of changes at once. It was both awkward and difficult, but looking back, I have realized that I now have a rifle that suits me much better than the old one. The balance of the rifle is much better, and it feels much easier to shoot.”

Why did you change rifles?

“The main reason is that I wanted a lighter rifle. I wanted to lose half a kilo. I have also worked a lot on my shooting in recent seasons, and now I took it one step further by changing rifles.”

Also Read: Samuelsson takes two podiums as new rifle gets its first real test

Have the new rules on the shooting range affected you?

“No, but I think it is an unnecessary rule. It does not solve any problem. Instead, it risks creating problems. We have ten different camera angles, and there could be a lot of discussions about whether you are doing it right or not. It would be a shame if there are discussions like that.”

“Brings a lot of energy”

A new face is joining an otherwise very experienced men’s team, Philip Lindkvist Flötten. How are you welcoming him?

“Aah. I guess it is mainly about teaching him Swedish,” says Samuelsson with a laugh.

“No, but he brings a lot of energy to the team, and that alone means a lot to the rest of us experienced athletes. Of course, he still has a lot to learn, but he is very ambitious and driven and wants a lot, so that is welcome. You can see that he is fired up, and that inspires me too.”

What do you think about his chances this winter?

“You should probably not expect him to be a consistent top-ten or top-20 athlete in the World Cup, but he has looked strong this summer, so he can probably have a few really good races already this winter. I think he has a good chance of racing quite a bit in the World Cup.”

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

Sick – missed the Loop-One festival

How has your preparation for the season gone?

“I was sick for a couple of weeks in October. That stressed me a little. But at the same time, I have otherwise been able to prepare well for the season, with good training in both the summer and the fall.”

Was it because you were sick that you missed the Loop-One festival?

“Yes, it was.”

You won a silver and a bronze at the Swedish rollerski championships this summer. What did that tell you?

“ In terms of skiing, it was a bit better than expected, so that part was good. As for the shooting, I had just gotten the new stock and I could feel that a lot about it was new.”

New shooting coach – new perspectives

You have a new shooting coach this season, Jonne Kähkönen. What does he bring?

“He is a new person who comes in with some new ideas and new ways of saying things. It is nothing revolutionary, but it gives some motivation, and you can get a slightly deeper understanding of certain details. For example, we have talked about how to handle a miss.”

There was a lot of talk about the music taste of Jean-Marc Chabloz (the former head shooting coach) – Alpine yodeling on the range. Does Jonne Kähkönen have better taste in music?

“I am not very good at music myself, so it is hard for me to say anything about that. But he does play the guitar.”

Read More: New shooting coach appointed for Swedish biathlon team

Samuelsson’s advice to his teammates: “Enjoy being a dad”

You became a father a couple of years ago. Ahead of this season, Jesper Nelin has also become a father, and Martin Ponsiluoma will become a father this winter. Do you have any advice for them?

“I try to avoid giving too many tips about that. I think you have to figure it out yourself. But you should enjoy the time. Becoming a dad is a big thing.”

The season opener in Idre is in a few days. What are you aiming for?

“The skiing can be what it is at the start of the season, but I want the shooting to work. If I can put together two good races with good shooting, I will be happy.”

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

Are you interested in biathlon? Click HERE and read more about it.