World champion Benedikt Doll has ended speculation about his future. The 32-year-old will remain in the biathlon circus for another year – but the coming season will definitely be his last. At the World Cup in Nove Mesto, the Black Forest rider wants to continue the good performances from the start of the season.
The sun is shining in Nove Mesto, Czech Republic, when Benedikt Doll appears for the interview appointment after the training session. The 32-year-old seems full of energy after the disappointing home World Cup, which ended without a medal for the German men.
Since the beginning of this season, there has been much speculation about the future of the best German in the overall World Cup – will the world champion end his career this year, or will he continue? After Doll finally became a father, the Black Forester had not clearly positioned himself. “I’ll do another year”he now explains in an interview with the sports show: “But then it’s over.”
“My wife supports me”
Benedikt Doll makes a very level-headed impression as he continues: “I still enjoy it and I’m still motivated, and I still feel physically fit. I want to attack again.” Of course, he talked about the decision with coaches, the association, but above all with his closest confidants.
He stated: “I can relate well to my family. My son is getting older now and will be able to come with me more often. I see no obstacle there. My wife supports me and thinks it’s good too.” But it’s out of the question that he will stay in the World Cup longer than this one more year.
Nickname “Captain”
Benedikt Doll is not only ahead with his sporting achievements, after the career ends of Erik Lesser and Arnd Peiffer, he is the leader of the German team. His colleagues gave him the nickname “Capitano” and not just because, as the admin of the team’s internal WhatsApp group in the World Cup, he coordinates training times, downhill runs and warming up together before competitions.
As the most experienced German athlete, Doll, who made his World Cup debut in 2012, is also an important contact for the young athletes in the team.
“I didn’t lie at home and ponder”
Benedikt Doll is currently seventh in the overall World Cup. His good performances this season naturally fueled expectations for the home World Championships in Oberhof. But neither in the individual races nor in the relay was it enough for a podium place. Doll spent the week between the World Championships and the World Cup in the Czech Republic with his family in the Black Forest.
“When I got home, I did so many other things straight away. That gave me a little distraction.”reports the Olympic bronze medalist: “It wasn’t like I lay at home and brooded the whole time.”
Doll’s coaches helped him deal with the World Cup bankruptcy – but his wife and parents also supported him. “But in the end I have to figure it out on my own and I’m pretty good at it now.”
Doll’s goals for the last trimester of this season, which begins in Nove Mesto and includes World Cups in the Czech Republic, Sweden and Norway, are clear: “I want to build on the performances in the World Cup. If everything goes perfectly, then the podium is possible. But finishing in the top ten or top fifteen is the goal.”
“This isn’t fun and games”
Although the big highlight of the season with the home World Cup is already over, Doll still takes the final spurt of the season very seriously. “I want to prove to myself again that it’s going well. It’s not fun and games here.”Doll gives insight into his thoughts: “I don’t think I’ll put extra pressure on myself after the World Cup.” So now it’s clear – the next three weeks won’t be a farewell tour.