January 15, 2010 (Rupholding, Germany) – With the surprising win of the Swedish women’s 4x6km relay team in today’s IBU World Cup in Rupholding, GER, the famous biathlon countries of yore are back on top of the podium. Elisabeth Högberg, Anna Carin Olofsson, Anna-Maria Nilsson and Helena Jonsson put in quite a performance. It has been a very long time since Sweden has won a biathlon relay.

What was expected to be a fight between Germany and Russia, turned out to be a fight that included Sweden and Norway. Ultimately, at the finish line, it was Sweden first, Norway second and Russia third, and the Germans 4th – a disappointment to the German fans, although it was an exciting race.

The drama came down to the last leg, a fight between Jonsson, Olga Zaitseva (RUS), Tora Berger (NOR) and Kati Wilhelm (GER). The Swede was fast enough to take the advantage, and Jonsson came across the line waving the Swedish flag, while her teammates ran into her arms. Russia came in next, sixteen seconds later. Then the huge stadium in Ruhpolding waited, expecting to celebrate a podium place for Germany when Wilhelm came in. But it was Berger who took 3rd ahead of Wilhelm by three seconds.

For the Canadian and US Teams, it was the first World Cup relay for many of their members, and a good experience going into the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games this February. The Canadian team of Megan Imrie, Zina Kocher, Rosanna Crawford and Melanie Schultz placed 16th, and the US team of Sara Studebaker, Haley Johnson, Laura Spector, and Lanny Barnes place 19th.

Saturday’s men’s 15km and the women’s 12.5km mass start races conclude the IBU World Cup stop in Rupholding.

Women’s 4x6km Relay full results here.

Results (brief)

1. Sweden (Hogberg, Olofsson-Zidek, Nilsson, Jonsson) 0+6, 1:17:31.4
2. Russia (Romanova, Boulygina, Medvedtseva, Saitseva) 0+8,+16.7
3. Norway (Eikeland, Flatland, Rogstad, Berger) 0+6,+29.1
4. Germany (Henkel, Neuner, Beck, Wilhelm) 2+10, +32.2
5. China (Wang, Liu, Liu, Song) 2+15, +2:22

16. Canada (Imrie, Kocher, Crawford, Schultz) 1+13, +7:56.4
19. USA (Studebaker, Johnson, Spector, Barnes) 2+15, +9:01.8