Juni Arnekleiv’s season-opening week is one she will always remember. With just nine BMW IBU World Cup starts under her belt before Oestersund, the 24-year-old Norwegian picked up her first-ever World Cup individual podium, led off the winning women’s relay team and teamed up with Sturla Holm Laegreid for second in the single mixed relay. Heading into Hochfilzen, Arnekleiv sits sixth in the Women’s World Cup Total Score, rare air for a World Cup rookie.

After a one-penalty, near-miss fourth place in her second-ever World Cup pursuit, we asked the Lillehammer resident five burning questions and a bonus about spending a day off from biathlon.

Biathlonworld: When you came to Oestersund, did you have any thoughts that you might get your first World Cup podium?

Juni Arnekleiv: I thought we could fight for a podium in the relays, but I did not expect a podium in an individual race.

BW: Did the single mixed and women’s relays give you some confidence for the rest of the week?

JA: Yes, I knew my shape was okay, but I was excited to see how it would look against the World Cup athletes.

BW: What was it like going from the IBU Cup to the IBU WCH and then shooting clean for 12th place in the sprint?

JA: I was really happy with my first-ever win in the Obertilliach IBU Cup and didn’t expect to compete in the World Championships at all. But when I competed there, I was completely calm, just happy to be on the starting line. I was having so much fun competing: that was the secret behind my good result.

BW: What changed for you since last season…training plan, mindset or more confidence in your ability?

JA: A new team and new coaches. I trained a lot this year with athletes who are better than me, so I always had to be really focused and strong to follow them in training.

BW: Have you already achieved more than you expected this season or do you have other big goals you want to share?

JA: Yes, absolutely! But I am hungry for more now when I see that I can manage the World Cup level…💪🏼

Biathlonworld Bonus: If you had no training, races, massages, meetings or anything else related to biathlon right now, how would you spend that time?

JA: I would probably be in the mountains with my boyfriend in a tent, waiting for the sun to rise so we could go Randonnée Skiing. But if the weather was bad, I would be sitting on the couch knitting a sweater and drinking coffee facetiming with my siblings… 😉

The icing on the cake is: Juni Arnekleiv leads in the Blue Bib (under 25) category…and is looking forward to more podium visits this season.

Photos: IBU/Per Danielsson, Nordic Focus