When the Olympic Games begin on February 6th, there will be some German gold candidates at the start. Whether Franziska Preuß, Johannes Lochner, Francesco Friedrich or Tobias Wendl and Tobias Arlt, they all have one thing in common: the best chances of winning a medal at a more mature age for competitive sports.
The chances of finding German precious metal in Milan and Cortina are high. DOSB President Thomas Weikert has set a correspondingly ambitious goal for the medal table: “If we get into the top three, I’ll be very, very happy”.
Ice channel can become a “gold mine” again
Traditionally, Germany has the best chance of winning Olympic gold in the ice track. For Johannes Lochner and Francesco Friedrich (both 35 years old), competitions without precious metals in the two-man and four-man bobsleigh would be a big disappointment.
In addition, there is the still young Adam Ammour, 24, so all six medals could definitely go to Germany.
High expectations for tobogganers
Some “more mature” Germans are also doing well in tobogganing. The women’s and men’s doubles are fighting for victory, as are the team relay and the men’s singles. Tobias Wendl and Tobias Arlt (both 38), Felix Loch (36) and Dajana Eitberger (35) are competing for Germany.
The two Tobiasses could celebrate their seventh and eighth Olympic victories and thus become the record winners at the Winter Olympics. Felix Loch would overtake the Italian Armin Zöggeler with his third gold in the single-seater. And Dajana Eitberger could become the first German to win precious metal in singles and doubles.
In skeleton, defending champion Christopher Grotheer (33) and silver medalist Axel Jungk (34) have good chances in the individual. There is also the opportunity for one of the two to win a premiere medal in the newly added team relay
Also on skis Medal chances “old”
In the disciplines of biathlon, alpine skiing and cross-country skiing, German hopes also rest on more established athletes. Whether Franziska Preuß, Linus Straßer, Lena Dürr or Laura Gimmler: they are all over 30 years old.
For Preuß, Straßer and Dürr it would each be the first precious metal in an individual discipline. All three won team competitions in Beijing in 2022. For Laura Gimmler, however, it would be her first ever medal at the Olympics. The biggest opportunity for her is as part of the cross-country skiing relay.
“Grandpa” of the athletes stands on runners
In the Nordic Combined, German hopes rest on Johannes Rydzek, among others. It will be the fifth Games for the 34-year-old from Allgäu, and he could win his fifth medal in Italy.
However, the oldest active Olympian for the DOSB is chasing a puck. Ice hockey player Moritz Müller is 40 and was there when he sensationally won the silver medal in Pyeongchang in 2018.
