The visually impaired Leonie Walter is one of the greatest talents in German parasport. The 21-year-old mastered an adventure before the Biathlon World Cup.
Leonie Walter sparked SOS. The Paralympic winner fell all alone into the spontaneous adventure of Norway last summer, and the biathlete wanted to test her borders on a pilgrimage on the well -known Olavsweg. But in a bog, the visually impaired Walter suddenly lost orientation. It’s a good thing that Mama Walter was accessible.
Mama Walter could help
“I then called my mother by video call and asked if she sees something and sent my location through”says the Freiburg native before the World Cup in Pokljuka. There were no signposts “It was just moor next to me”reports the 21-year-old from Freiburg. But mom could help, just 150 meters away, she found a rest area on which Walter could open her tent.
“Cool that I was just on my own”
During her seven days and 170 -kilometer trip on foot from Oppdal to Trondheim, she was able to learn a lot, says Walter: “I thought it was cool that I just put myself on my own and didn’t depend on anyone.” Usually there is almost always someone at your side, in the trail your guide Christian Krasman helps.
Leonie Walter is at the top in the overall World Cup
At the para world championships in Slovenia on Thursday (06.02.2025), Walter is one of the favorites. After her journey into the unknown, she took another step forward, after three season victories, Walter is at the top in the overall World Cup, in the cross-country skiing, the biathlon gold medal winner from Beijing ranked second.
Walter does not burden the favorite role. “If I put pressure on myself, it doesn’t get any better either. I try to have fun “says the athlete from SC St. Peter, who already took two World Cup titles in 2023. Rather, she refers to the competition, especially the Austrian Paralympic winner Carina Edlinger and Chinese Wang Yue has Walter on the bill.
A main rival, however, lacks: 19-year-old Linn Kazmaier, who triumphed like Walter at the winter games and then dominated in the overall World Cup and at the World Championships, does not take part in Pokljuka after her late start. Last year, Walter was in second place behind Kazmaier three times. In this, the train to gold now seems free.
