With the women’s sprint, the fourth World Cup event of the biathlon winter begins on Thursday (2:20 p.m.) in Oberhof. In front of their home crowd, the German starters are of course under special observation. Hopes rest primarily on Franziska Preuß, who will be competing in the yellow jersey. But attention is also on top talent Julia Tannheimer after her outstanding start to the season.
At the start of the winter, German biathlon hopeful Julia Tannheimer set an exclamation mark: in Kontiolathi, Finland, the 19-year-old finished sixth in the sprint and followed that with fifth place in the mass start. Tannheimer thus met the DSV’s internal World Cup standard twice, which requires a place in the top 8 or two top 15 results.
In Hochfilzen, Tannheimer collected further points with ranks 29 (sprint) and 17 (pursuer). A little later in Annecy things didn’t go well at all, but the newcomer also suffered from health problems that even prevented her from starting in the pursuit. The fact that she has already proven that she can keep up with the world elite seems almost like a dream to Tannheimer.
“I actually can’t really believe that things have gone so well so far,” enthuses Tannheimer in an exclusive conversation sport.de about their achievements so far this winter. “I’m just happy about every race that goes well and I just try to take the experience with me from the ones that don’t go so well,” continued Tannheimer.
Biathlon talent does not focus on outside opinions
The ski hunter tries to ignore the fact that the results have also increased public expectations and interest.
“I actually try not to let the growing expectations and public interest get to me. I generally don’t try so much to read other opinions on the Internet or something like that. So that I notice it as little as possible,” explains the German focuses on her personal development: “As long as I’m personally satisfied or can take something away from the race, that’ll help me move forward.”
A healthy attitude with which Tannheimer will also approach the sprint race on Thursday. Reported as of 2:20 p.m sport.de from the first competition in Oberhof in the LIVE ticker. Tannheimer is the first German athlete to start at 2:37 p.m.