from google translator so not best english:
Imatra's Athletes Venla Lehtonen is happy that the World Cup had even one success in the first season. - Otherwise it has been a bit of a bang. All the while, however, I believe that the condition is bound to be some, because I've been working out so well. You just have to get it out, he says.
Venla Lehtonen answers the phone in Östersund, Sweden. The first World Championships in Biathlon Biathlon are on the doorstep and Lehtonen's moods are much happier than in the winter.
Although Lehtonen, 23, was the first World Cup to win his career at the beginning of December in Pokljuka, Slovenia, he is very difficult to describe in his early days.
The imatralist did not reach his level and decided to go home in January for the Ruhpolding World Cup. After that, the Anterselvan competition and the North American tour were missed.
- It feels like the right solution. At home I've been working out, focused and prepared to come here. The goal has been to get the condition out. Based on the European Championships and anyway, it is good that we have succeeded in it, Lehtonen says.
The training season went well and in August he felt he was really ready for the race. The first high-altitude camp in Anterselv was also well done and there were just a couple of weeks at the beginning of the snow camp until something was mixed up.
- In my personal life, I had a little thought about what I didn't want to talk about. Even with that, the load was certainly too big. When the snow camp started, there was a bit of an emergency when the skiing was over. At the beginning of the World Cup, I felt like I needed a couple of weeks at home at that point.
Skiing speed at the Imatra Championships
After Ruhpolding, Lehtonen competed for the first time at the beginning of February in the Imatra Championships. At Ukonniemi streets, skiing felt for the first time this season what he had been waiting for.
- It was nice to be able to ski without a gun, it was really fun. It seems that after Ruhpolding things have been done as well as we can. It just remains to see where it is. With great success, the performance is definitely a different category to date.
World Championships start on Thursday with a mixed message with Kaisa Mäkäräinen, Tero Seppälä and Olli Hiidensalo skiing with Lehtonen.
Last winter, Lehtonen, who made his fairytale debut at the Olympics, also believes that he will be on both women's personal trips during the opening weekend.
Friday is a fast-paced race and on Sunday there is a short ride, which can be reached by the fastest 60.
- I'm going to come from behind.
It is still not possible to say about the posts
The women's message will be on next week's Saturday.
Even though Mari Eder, with her own problems, missed the World Championships and the brightest star Mäkäräinen skied naturally what she wants, four other women still compete for the other three locations.
- It is not yet possible to say about the posts. They are seen as the race progresses, Lehtonen says.
In Östersund he has never competed before, but camped there last summer.
- Then we raced on the roller track, but the runway goes quite differently.
Unlike the Seefeld World Championships in Central Sweden, you don't have to compete at ten-degree temperatures.
- It has been quite cold now, in the early twenties, even in the cold. By the way, it has been a really nice road, the sun shines. Of course, when the race starts, then the snow and the wind will come, Lehtonen laughs.
Championship World Championships in Östersund
To 7.3. Mixed message (2x6 km + 2x7.5 km)
Fri 8.3. Fast travel 7.5 km, women
La 9.3. Fast travel 10 km, men
With 10.3. Rear driving 10 km, women; driving 12.5 km, men
Thu 12.3. Normal distance 15 km, women
Wed 13.3. Normal distance 20 km, men
To 14.3. Couple Mixed Message
La 16.3. Message (4x6 km), women
With 17.3. Output 12.5 km, women; departure 15 km, men