Sweden & Norway Sweep Mixed Biathlon!
Sweden's Sebastian Samuelsson and Hanna Oeberg in action during the mixed relay race of the biathlon BMW IBU World Cup in Otepaa. Ints Kalnins/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa Sweden came from behind to claim victory in a mixed biathlon relay on Sunday in windy Estonia where the United States made history with a first ever relay podium finish. The US team led until the final exchange in Otepää before Sweden's Elvira Öberg and Lina Häcki-Gross of Switzerland proved too strong for American anchor Margie Freed.
The Swedish quartet of Viktor Brandt, Martin Ponsiluoma, Anna Karin Heijdenberg and Öberg won with one penalty loop and 14 spares, 28. 6 seconds ahead of the Swiss. The US celebrated a first ever relay podium in third, another 6 seconds back.
Powerhouses Norway were no factor in sixth with five penalty loops, and neither were Olympic champions France, who in the absence of stars Julia Simon and Lou Jeanmonnot came eighth with four penalty loops and a deficit of 2 minutes. The French fared even worse in the earlier single mixed relay where they were disqualified because Emilien Jacquelin used one spare too many and did not ski a penalty loop. Victory went to Norway's perfect Sturla Holm Lægreid and Karoline Offigstad Knotten, 1:38.
1 minutes ahead of Sweden, whose Hanna Öberg had three penalty laps. Finland came third with one penalty loop. Lægreid has topped the podium in the last five World Cup races he has contested, including relays, and has been on the podium in 11 in a row, including the Olympics.
The season ends next week in Oslo with three races each for men and women. Norway's Sturla Holm Laegreid and Karoline Offigstad Knotten celebrate after the mixed relay race of the biathlon BMW IBU World Cup in Otepaa. Ints Kalnins/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa