Biathlon : “Finishing fourth in a championship is an incredible achievement”, says Olli Hiidensalo
This season, Olli Hiidensalo ‘s best finish in the World Cup was eleventh in the pursuit at Le Grand-Bornand (Haute-Savoie). But on Tuesday in Antholz (Italy), the Finn came very close to springing a surprise in the individual race at the Milan/Cortina Olympic Games.
Impeccable behind the rifle with a 20/20 marksman’s score, the 35-year-old biathlete long believed he was on the podium that his country had been waiting 28 years for, since Ville Räikkönen won bronze in the sprint at the Nagano Games (Japan) in 1998.
“I managed my energy well and never really felt tired. I gave it my all in the last kilometre. I’m so proud of myself… To finish fourth in a championship is an incredible performance,” he told Finnish media outlet Yle.I couldn’t have done anything more. Three riders were better than me today.
Last winter, the Finn came close to achieving the same feat in the individual event at the World Championships in Lenzerheide (Switzerland). There too, he took fourth place with a faultless shot (20/20).
“A year ago, on the individual event in Lenzerheide, the shooting was completely different. Today, hitting the targets is more difficult, which is why achieving such a performance is incredibly impressive,” concludes Olli Hiidensalo.
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