LIVE BLOG: How are Estonian women biathletes faring in the Olympic aftermath at the World Cup stage?
Estonian women biathletes are set to compete in a World Cup stage in Kontiolahti, Finland, following underwhelming Olympic performances.
The final trimester of the Biathlon World Cup series is set to kick off this weekend in Kontiolahti, Finland, featuring the women’s 15 km individual race. Estonia's top athletes, including Susan Külm, Regina Ermits, Tuuli Tomingas, and Johanna Talihärm, will be competing in this key event, which is crucial for analyzing their performances post-Olympics. The blog coverage by Postimees will commence on this exciting race at 18:05 local time.
Reflecting on their recent Olympic experience, Estonian national team coach Håvard Gutubø Bogetveit admitted that the team's performances did not meet expectations. He expressed uncertainty about the reasons for their disappointing results, which could have been related to the altitude in the Olympic setting or other factors. This uncertainty highlights the need for thorough analysis and understanding of the challenges faced by the athletes once they return from Kontiolahti, where they aim to rebuild their confidence and performance standards.
Among the athletes, only Susan Külm managed to secure a noteworthy result in the Olympics, finishing in 22nd place during her pursuit race. Külm will be the first of the Estonian women to take to the course, starting at 18:20, and the upcoming race is seen as an opportunity to regain momentum and possibly secure better results after the Olympics. The coverage of this event will be crucial for fans and analysts eager to see how the athletes adapt after a challenging Olympic season.