Laura Dahlmeier was one of the greatest in her sport when she was active – and ended her career early. Now the 28-year-old revealed that she almost came back – and why she decided against it.
The two-time biathlon Olympic champion Laura Dahlmeier briefly thought of a comeback almost a year after the end of her career. “My fingers were itching, I would have wanted to know it again for a race,” said the 28-year-old in an interview with the Augsburger Allgemeine (Saturday edition).
Dahlmeier ended her career in 2019 at the age of 25. In the year after her resignation, she “only did what I wanted. I did a lot of climbing, mountaineering, ski touring or cross-country skiing. So I thought, would I still be fit? How about if she put a rifle in my hand and I’ll start again?” said Dahlmeier.
In the end, Dahlmeier decided against the comeback: “If you think the thought through to the end, it’s clear that it won’t just stop at one race. I no longer want to focus my whole life on biathlon.”
She is now studying sports science at the Technical University of Munich. “The semester break is very nice. I enjoy the informality. If someone asks me tomorrow: How are things, the conditions are good, we’re going on a ski tour tomorrow, are you coming with me? Now I say: Cool, I’m in,” says Dahlmeier: “Otherwise I either had training or competitions.”