Letting Go of Control: Why It’s Hard

She may have cracked the code.

That’s what Elvira Öberg said after the World Cup success in Oberhof just after the New Year.

There were double victories, and the season’s first individual podiums, in the sprint and pursuit start. A week later she shot full speed in a sprint, again.

It has not been commonplace.

– Now it’s just a matter of sticking to this concept, says the biathlon star ahead of the gold hunts at the Olympics in Italy.

What is it about? A brand new one approach to the races, both before and out on the track.

It accommodates both coaches who have been taught to keep quiet – and Swedish detective stories.

Last season had Elvira Öberg big problems on the shooting ramp especially in sprint races. That, along with illness before the World Cup, was what put the brakes on an overall World Cup title.

This winter, the sprint in the Swedish premiere went well. But in December, the 26-year-old was back in his old ways.

– There was really a lot of pondering after last season. Like “what is it that makes me ride and above all shoot so much better in all competitions other than sprinting?” says Elvira Öberg.

– It made a huge difference in terms of hit percentage.

When she at Christmas got a couple of weeks off from competition, the thoughts continued. She landed on a decision:

– I felt that I had to do something. So, I can’t go on like this and keep doing the same thing I’ve been doing, but I have to do something else.

She discussed forward and back with his mental advisor from the Swedish Olympic Committee (Malin Tillman).

– Is it about me becoming more focused or less focused, or more distracted or what is the difference?

– We decided, on my initiative, to test letting the brain think about something else before the races.

Before last season the biathlon starting order was changed, which meant that the best names went out later in the field in the individual start races.

It has made Elvira Öberg’s wait at the competition arena longer. And made her brain go into overdrive.

She has become “alone with her own thoughts”, she says when DN meets her in the Alps for a longer interview.

– It might sound dramatic! she adds, laughing.

– But it would seem that I analyze a lot of things in advance, take in impressions and think a lot: “What will happen, what will happen if it turns out like this? How do I need to go if I want to win?”.

Image 1 of 3

Image 2 of 3

Image 3 of 3

Now hers is shopping new plans to “distract” the brain before the start.

Before the competitions in Oberhof and Ruhpolding, she listened to audiobooks in the warm-up. Camilla Läckbergs The stonecutterto be precise.

– I know that works very well for me in everyday life when I have a lot on my mind, listening to audiobooks or podcasts, to occupy my brain with other things, says Elvira Öberg.

She explains:

– Because even if I don’t think through the competition a hundred times, I won’t be unprepared when I stand on the starting line. Without that, I know that I can manage to be great at every training session. There, it’s not like I’m overwhelmed every single time I’m going to do an interval workout.

– I am at my best when I am relaxed in my mindset, but then of course offensive in certain keys on the mound. So it’s about letting your shoulders down, and taking it easy.

That calm should she then keep out on the track.

It is part two of the multiple Olympic and World Cup medalist’s new approach to competition.

Standard procedure during competition is for Swedish leaders to give the biathletes split times during the entire race.

But in the last individual races, Elvira Öberg has only wanted to know how she is in relation to the competitors on her final lap.

– Then it is relevant tactically, to be able to push yourself and motivate yourself.

– But whether I’m one second ahead or two seconds behind someone else at the first intermediate time … I won’t change my skiing based on that intermediate time, but the risk is perhaps rather that I tense up or get stressed. Or think “oh, now I’m going fast. Now I have to keep going this fast.”

It is noticeable that she have thought through the strategy. Elvira Öberg leans forward in her chair in the dark outside the national team’s hotel:

– But what is it actually about? Well, I’ll try to get through this contest as quickly as possible. Regardless of what the others do.

– Then I also know that if I do a good race, it will go a long way.

Right now it feels like it of course to continue with what has been a winning plan, she continues.

– I don’t think I have ever felt so relaxed at a competition as during the sprint in Oberhof.

In the pursuit start at the same location, where she stood out first of all and won, it became a certain challenge not to have intermediate times seconded along the course.

– It’s a bit scary to let go of that control in a chase start, that I don’t know what the others are doing. But trying to do my own race and focus on mine still means that I can be more relaxed, that I don’t increase the stress level.

Are there any risks with this?

– I don’t really see any risks and I have also talked to my mental advisor about that. She sees no risks, no escape behavior. There is no reason not to dare to test.

Image 1 of 3

Image 2 of 3

Image 3 of 3

Her new strategy has put the leaders out on the track for new tests.

Anyone who has ever watched biathlon on television has seen Sweden’s head coach Johannes Lukas rushing after his skaters in the track, shouting out times.

How was this received by him?

Elvira Öberg laughs.

– If there is anyone who needs control, it is probably Johannes. But he understands why I wanted to do this.

– Now he gets to run and shout other things. Around technology and technical keys. Because that’s what I want to focus on.

Read more:

Elvira Öberg: “I’m a perfectionist”

The winter athletes on the risk of stalkers: “We are quite a vulnerable group”