Oslo (AP) – Biathlete Franziska Preuss celebrated a sense of achievement at the end of a season that was frustrating for her. The 28-year-old secured second place in the mass start at the World Cup finals in Oslo.
In her first podium finish of the season and the first in a year, Preuss only had to give way to Olympic champion Justine Braisaz-Bouchet from France. In a race that was exciting until the end, Preuss was 7.8 seconds behind the winner. Third place went to overall World Cup winner Marte Olsbu Röiseland from Norway (+ 8.6 seconds). The trio made two mistakes each.
Medal hope Preuss had to pause for a long time due to a foot injury and a corona infection, had doubts and could hardly exploit their potential. After Olympic bronze with the relay, things got better and better towards the end of the season. “I’m extremely tired in my head, but I trusted myself,” said Preuss on ZDF: “It was a tough time, I don’t need it again. If everything went normally, I’ll be there and I have to do that as motivation take with me in the preparation for the new season.”
The German team result was rounded off by Denise Herrmann in seventh, Janina Hettich in ninth, directly followed by Vanessa Voigt and Franziska Hildebrand in 15th place.
With this, the German women ski hunters end the World Cup season with six podium finishes. Herrmann got the only success in the Kontiolahti sprint. Outstanding were her Olympic victory in the individual and Olympic bronze in the relay. Vanessa Voigt (24) showed her potential with her first World Cup podium as the sprint second in Otepää.