Biathlon national coach Mark Kirchner is concerned about the competitiveness of the German men’s team in the near future.
“We’ve lost some of our successful players over the past two or three years. It’s a fact that a Benedikt Doll will probably not be around for much longer. So there’s a small dent to overcome,” said the 52-year-old in a media round in Oberhof.
This is now and then with a “generational change quite normal”. However, those responsible are currently “not 100 percent satisfied” with the performance of the juniors, Kirchner explained: “But it also took the Peiffers and Schempps a while until they became consistently good. It is important to keep working, to keep at it, and then we will also be able to train good athletes. But some things take a little bit.”
Biathlon: situation among women “friendlier”
Things look “friendlier” for women, their coach Kristian Mehringer added: “Selina Grotian, Lisa Spark or a few others – we are very well positioned there. There are some who look very good. We just hope that they can then continue the step towards the World Cup and make the decisions difficult for us.” But it is also important not to give up on athletes too early.
For example, Sophia Schneider and Hanna Kebinger, who were strong at the home World Cup, only made the step at the age of 25.
“Of course it can also work like with Magdalena Neuner or Laura Dahlmeier, that there is a relatively smooth transition to the junior area. Of course you always want that, then you have a new superstar again,” says Mehringer: “But we have to have the ball keep it flat and bring a Selina Grotian or a Lisa Spark towards the top of the world.”