The IBU Cup does not start until after the New Year and thus there have been some questions about the upcoming World Cup season.
Skiers who have not been qualified for the World Cup have not had any opportunity to qualify via the IBU Cup.
This has put Stina Nilsson and several other skiers in a tricky situation.
But today came positive news.
Applies to the competitions before Christmas
This weekend, the International Biathlon Federation met to sort out the question marks.
- We decided that each nation may have two men and two women within its regular quota who do not have the formal qualification.
And that applies to the World Cups before Christmas, says Olle Dahlin, chairman of the International Biathlon Federation, to SVT Sport.
- After New Year, the exemption is not needed as you will have had the opportunity to qualify further by driving the World Cup this year.
National team coach happy with the decision
Johannes Lukas, head coach of the national team, likes the decision.
- I think it is very good, and I almost thought it would be like this.
It is important for the World Cup.
I think it is completely right, says Lukas to SVT Sport.
How many competitions are there?
- There are about eight to nine races, except for the relay.
This means that the Swedish biathlon national team has the opportunity to let Stina Nilsson compete this winter.
But Luke tones the demands on her.
- It is possible for her to go to the World Cup, but she must be selected first.
There is tough competition on the women's side in Sweden.
When you do biathlon, you learn new things all the time, it's tough.
She has a theoretical chance to compete, but it is a long way to go, says Lukas.
Support for Grip
He is supported by Rikard Grip, general secretary of the biathlon federation.
- We should not have too high expectations, that she will deliver at the beginning of the season.
The most important thing for her is to compete.
It is about accumulating as much routine as possible.
That is the focus, says Grip.
Just over halfway into August, Nilsson injured himself during training.
She suffered a fracture in her elbow and was out of training for a few weeks.
According to Lukas, she is two to three weeks away from full training.
The World Cup begins on November 28 in Kontiolahti.
CLIP: Stina Nilsson after the injury: "I must be careful and wise" (September 15, 2020)
Javascript is disabled
Javascript must be turned on to play video
Read more about browser support
The browser is not supported
SVT does not support playback in your browser.
We therefore recommend that you switch to another browser.
Read more about browser support
Stina Nilsson.
Photo: Bildbyrån