Biathlete Linn Gestblom before the season opener: “You never seem to know with my shoulders”

Swedish biathlete Linn Gestblom missed the entire previous season due to two shoulder operations. Ahead of the new season, her right shoulder has started acting up again, leaving her short of full training with only two weeks to go before the season opener in Idre.

Gestblom is currently not with the national team at its training camp in Idre. “We set the training plan after each session based on how it goes,” she told SVT Sport, adding that it feels better and she hopes to join the camp soon. “If the recent progress continues, I should be able to return to full training soon, but you never seem to know with my shoulders,” she said with a wry smile.

In August she returned to competition at the Swedish roller biathlon championships—her first race in a year and a half—where she skipped one event. Asked if she can handle the load of a World Cup week, she said she thinks so, though she hasn’t tested three races in a row yet.

Looking ahead, Gestblom’s goal is clear: earn World Cup starts and claim one of Sweden’s remaining Olympic berths. Sweden has four individual Olympic start spots; Elvira Öberg and Hanna Öberg are already selected, leaving two plus reserve places available. Despite strong internal competition, Gestblom said she will do everything she can to make the team and perform once there. She added that uncertainty about selections is normal early in the season and that she usually feels more secure by March.