The biathletes will compete at high altitude during the Olympics in Beijing in February.

When the World Cup circus comes to places that are at a similar height as the Olympic tracks, Sebastian Samuelsson notices that it affects him when he competes.

- It takes a long time for me to acclimatize.

In Antholz last year (1800 meters above sea level, please note) we were a few days at altitude and then I did not ride so well.

If you look at the WC in Pokljuka last year, it is not very high but it is still a certain height, then I was at height several weeks before and then it feels good.

I look at the measurements we make to check lactate and such, that it works well, but I need plenty of time, he says.

Samuelsson describes that he lacks proper experience of high-altitude training.

Former coach Wolfgang Pichler had a different training philosophy.

Last year, the high-altitude camp was canceled due to the pandemic and the year before, Samuelsson became ill and had to go home.

More championships at high altitude

This year, Samuelsson and coach Johannes Lukas decided that it would be good to have their own high-altitude approach.

In June, Samuelsson packed his bags and went to Italy himself for three weeks to learn more about, among other things, acclimatization.

When we meet Samuelsson, it has been autumn and he is at an altitude of 1850 meters in France.

- From the experiences last winter, I would say ten to twelve days, he says when he is asked what they are starting to learn in terms of how much time he needs to acclimatize to high altitude.

- Now I will not say too much, but I was away at high altitude this summer and then it also took ten days.

While I think it went a little better a little faster this fall.

So hopefully it's an effect of me being at a high altitude earlier this year.

He also hopes to benefit from high-altitude training later in his career.

- It feels exciting because we will have several championships at high altitude in the future.

The 2026 Olympics in Italy, for example.

I want to perform well now in Beijing, so it is important to use all the knowledge I can and teach my body to adapt better and better, Samuelsson concludes

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Sebastian Samuelsson