Biathlon: Swedish triumph — Sebastian Samuelsson and Ella Halvarsson win single mixed relay in Östersund

Sebastian Samuelsson delivered a flawless performance on the range in the single mixed relay in Östersund, helping Sweden seize an early lead. After his opening leg, he handed over to teammate Ella Halvarsson with a 6.8‑second advantage.

Halvarsson shot clean in the first prone stage of her leg, extending the margin before standing. Sweden’s momentum continued as Samuelsson maintained perfect shooting throughout his subsequent turns, noting the intensity of single mixed relays and how a clean sheet was a significant boost to his confidence.

Starting the final lap with a lead of 25 seconds over Norway, Halvarsson faced pressure in the closing standing stage. Despite two misses, she exited the range still in front and powered to the finish to secure a clear victory for Sweden.

SVT expert Mona Brorsson called the display “masterclass,” praising Halvarsson’s confidence and poise despite her relative inexperience. Halvarsson, who burst onto the scene last season with a World Championship silver, said the race felt “as perfect as it could be,” crediting Samuelsson’s calming words — “have fun” — at the first exchange for helping her execute a strong final lap.

Norway finished second, 19.1 seconds behind Sweden, while France edged Germany in a sprint for third place.