At the start of the 2024 Biathlon World Championships in Nove Mesto on Wednesday, Benedikt Doll was forced to watch. The 33-year-old had only recently arrived due to a slight cold and was therefore missing from the squad for a German mixed relay team for the first time in three years. In the end it wasn’t enough for a medal. If Doll has his way, it won’t stay that way.
“I’m fine. Unfortunately, I had a little cold, but it wasn’t anything serious,” Doll explained in a media round: “It went away after five or six days. Now I feel fit and I’m doing something quick in training. Then everything should be fine for Saturday.”
On Saturday, the men’s first individual World Cup race of the 2024 World Championships is scheduled for the sprint. For Doll, this is probably one of the best chances for a medal outside of the men’s relay. After all, the veteran won the title in Hochfilzen in 2017 and celebrated four of his six victories in the World Cup over the shortest distance. He was successful twice in 2023/24 alone.
At least the time out due to illness hasn’t slowed Doll down, his goals are still big: he feels fit and has the feeling that everything will be fine for Saturday, says Doll, who adds: “I would like to be at an award ceremony again. Whether I “It’s not that important whether you yourself or someone else from the team is honored. It would be nice if a Germany anthem played. I’m up for it again. I hope that happens.”
Things are running smoothly again at the shooting range
In order for this to succeed, however, you will have to fend off the superiority of the Norwegian top favorites around defending champion Johannes Thingnes Bö.
In terms of running, Doll usually works quite well, but recently the Black Forest native had major problems at the shooting range. They should now be history. “Things are going quite well again at the moment, I feel like shooting again. And I think I’ll be able to get to the shooting range on Saturday with a certain degree of confidence.”
Basically, he always “still wants to deliver a perfect race. And I get annoyed when the race isn’t good. I want to do my best.”
If this succeeds, Doll’s second individual medal at a World Cup is absolutely within reach.