Johanna Skottheim got a dream start to the season.

After two competition weekends, the 26-year-old from Transtrand was surprisingly third in the overall World Cup after, among other things, his career's first podium place and two more top-5 places.

Then it got heavier.

In Oberhof, Skottheim ended up outside the top 50 in the initial two competitions and the week after came the news that she would not be on the starting line because she did not feel "100 percent".

- The feeling in the body has not been quite a hundred and then it is difficult to perform at this level.

For me to do that, we had to try to give the body a little more peace, to be able to come back, says Skottheim.

She was in charge of the final weekend in Oberhof - did not train at all that week - and was also in charge of the initial competitions in Antholz.

- It is actually the most difficult thing there is to stand over races.

The easy alternative had really been to continue competing, even though it did not feel good.

But at the same time, I know that in order to perform, I have to be at my normal level and I have not been.

Important to detect in time

National team doctor Lykke Tamm was involved and made the decision.

- It's so easy if you break the leg, then everyone sees that "now you can not stand up".

But if you feel tired, you might think "I'm probably better tomorrow".

But we always discuss together and decide together - as an individual active it is difficult to make that decision, says Tamm and continues:

- What is important is that you discover it in time, increase the recovery and start again.

If you do it on time, it usually does not last that long.

Johanna Skottheim was again on the starting line only during the last race before the World Cup relay in Antholz.

More nervous "than ever before", she made a clearly approved effort - not least on the dike where she was flawless.

In the track she lost a lot, but was still happy.

- I still think it's perfectly okay, the last lap I would have liked to be able to change tempo a little more than I did.

But it was still a step in the right direction, she says.

"Trust the team"

That Skottheim could deliver ten hits despite the nervousness and the high altitude in Antholz gave his self-confidence a boost.

- Even though I have not trained so much shooting lately, I can handle it.

It's a stressful situation when everyone enters the dike at the same time, but I really focus on mine and I know I can do the right things on the dike.

TT: Will you be able to drive according to plan now towards the WC?

- Yes, I still think I will be able to drive along the plan that we have laid.

I trust that the team around me has made a plan that is the best for me.

The World Cup starts in Slovenian Pokljuka on February 10.