Sebastian Samuelsson did not win a medal at the Olympic Games in Beijing.
But in the overall World Cup, he still has a lot to go for.
- I would very much like to find a podium there.
It would have meant a lot, he says before the competitions in Estonian Otepää.
Right now he is third, 41 points behind runner-up Emilien Jacquelin and over 200 points behind leader Quentin Fillon Maillet.
It's too far up to a total victory, but second place is within reach.
- I will really fight for that.
There are five competitions left and you notice that people start to get tired at the end of the season.
It would have been fun if I could beat him, absolutely, he says.
"Of course it's some money"
The winner of the overall World Cup will receive 28,000 euros, in addition to the prize money he has already received.
But it is not the money that Samuelsson is fighting for.
It is, among other things, to become the first Swedish men among the top three since Mikael Löfgren won the entire World Cup in the 1992-1993 season.
- It is clear that there is some money as well, but it does not make much difference if you are second, third, fourth or fifth.
It's more prestige.
We have not had any Swedish men on the podium in the overall World Cup since Micke Löfgren in the 1990s.
It attracts a little.
The World Cup is very important for us biathletes, says Samuelsson.
Trained sniper
The Swede is currently ahead of all Norwegians.
But if it is to last, the standing shooter probably needs to be better than it was last time in Kontiolahti.
Samuelsson has trained extra on just that.
- The sniper was not so good in Kontiolahti so I have focused there.
I have shot more standing than lying down.
Today at the training I had all the meetings standing, so that might be a sign, he says.
SVT broadcasts the competitions from Otepää.
They start with the men's sprint at 2.20 pm tomorrow on SVT1.
CLIP: Here Samuelsson shoots away the victory (March 5)
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Sebastian Samuelsson pushed away the victory in Kontiolahti.
Photo: Kimmo Brandt / EPA / TT