It has been clear since Wednesday: Biathlon hope Selina Grotian will miss the World Cup in Hochfilzen. As the 21-year-old has since announced, she received a bitter diagnosis: Corona.
“I don’t know what to say…same shit as two years ago,” Grotian wrote on Instagram. “I hope that Östersund and I will understand each other better next time.”
After a bumpy start to the season, the top German talent recently thought he was on the upswing. “I wasn’t really satisfied with my performance in the races, even though the shooting in training went so well. The sprint competition felt much better and I was ready to attack in the pursuit,” said Grotian, referring to the previous World Cup stop in Östersund, Sweden.
The infection then “threw her off track a little”. When the illness turned out to be COVID, “I decided not to start in Hochfilzen,” explained Grotian. “I was so motivated to finally do my best. I don’t want to take any risks with my health and the rest of the season and it just wouldn’t have made sense.”
The biathlon ace added: “Now it’s time to rest and hope for the best so I can attack again.”
Biathlon: Franzi Preuß is also missing from Hochfilzen
Bitter from a German perspective: In addition to Grotian, overall World Cup winner Franzi Preuß is also missing in Hochfilzen, who, according to her own statements, is even struggling with a double infection consisting of corona and influenza.
“Unfortunately, Franzi Preuß and Selina Grotian didn’t manage to get fit again in time. We had hoped that it could be enough, but last night at the latest brought final clarity,” explained DSV sports director Felix Bitterling in a statement on Wednesday.
The focus is now entirely on the World Cup in Le Grand Bornand (December 18th to 21st). Grotian and Preuß should get back in there “and gain self-confidence before the Christmas break,” said Bitterling.