It is the first setback in Selina Grotian’s stellar career. The 19-year-old biathlon hopeful misses the World Cup races in Ruhpolding and has to start again in the second-class IBU Cup.
The home World Cup from Wednesday (January 10, 2024 in the live ticker at sportschau.de) will take place without Selina Grotian. The German biathlon talent was left off the World Cup team and will instead gain self-confidence in the IBU Cup.
No place in the World Cup among the top 20
Grotian could not meet the expectations that those around her, fans and possibly herself had. In the previous individual races she didn’t even finish in the top 20. Her composure on the shooting range was gone, and her fast legs were often not fresh on the more difficult World Cup courses. Most recently, the Bavarian disappointed in 45th place in the pursuit in Oberhof.
“Not the race I was hoping for. Unfortunately I wasn’t 100% focused at the shooting range today”, Grotian wrote on her Instagram channel after the race. With seven mistakes, she fell back significantly after finishing 21st in the sprint and had to cope with the next piece of bad news a short time later. She will initially lose her starting place in the World Cup and will instead start in the second-class IBU Cup. “It wasn’t enough and now I have to go to Ridnaun. That’s of course very demotivating for me, but I’m trying to take the best with me so that I can come back stronger.”
Sometimes you have to take a step back to move forward. In the second league, away from the hustle and bustle, Grotian should have “a positive experience” (sports director Felix Bitterling).
Grotian has cleared everything so far
Grotian has proven that she has talent. Her rise was impressive. The ski hunter, who competes for SC Mittenwald, has been doing biathlon since she was nine years old and has been one of the best in her year every year from the start. German Cup, Junior European Championships, Junior World Cup – she was on top of the podium everywhere.
Last season she made her breakthrough in the IBU Cup at the age of 18. Among other things, four gold medals at the Junior World Championships and a complete set of medals at the 2023 European Championships. Comparisons with Laura Dahlmeier and Magdalena Neuner were loud. Maybe too loud.
Voted “Rising Star of the Year”.
As Grotian last fall MDR television at the “Golden Hen 2023” was named “Rising Star of the Year”, she was suddenly known to a wide audience. The laudatory speech for Grotian was given by three-time Olympic medalist and ARD expert Erik Lesser. The Thuringian praised the Bavarian: “You rocked the school and youth classes, so it was only a matter of time before you would cause an international sensation. You dominated the junior classes and flexed heavily last year. World Cup debut at the age of 19 – the finest cream.”
At the time, Lesser praised Grotian’s calm and composure. “One of your many characteristics that I appreciate is your down-to-earth attitude. Just letting go of biathlon and chilling out.” The looseness that characterized her back then has disappeared in the World Cup circus. Maybe all that was missing was a sense of success. The Bavarian should now get this in the second division in order to attack the best again with the necessary self-confidence.