After bronze and silver, Franziska Preuss completes their medal set at the biathlon World Cup in Switzerland in the persecution. A triumph that writes some funny and emotional side stories.
In English there is a term that is currently enjoying great popularity. Again and again one reads from “”Full circle moment“. In German, the most correct translation would probably be:” The moment when a circle closes “. Franziska Preuß experiences such a moment after the persecution of the World Cup in Lenzerheide.
The competition helps out of the bond
Immediately after the finish, the 30-year-old seems overjoyed, but still somewhat. Nevertheless, she hugs almost every competitor. Waiting patiently finish for finishes, helps the other athletes who exhausted their races ended out of the bond. She kills her knees every time, it almost seems like a bow.
Actually, however, she would be the one to bow to that day. And then he starts, the interview marathon through the so-called mixed zone. When the Bavarian is over with the first question and the question and open to the next TV station, she spies behind her parents Elisabeth and Georg.
When parents and children cry together for joy
Immediately she leaves everything standing and lying down, storms towards the family and hugs her mother. The face of Mama Elisabeth Preuß is already overflowed by joy. “My parents were also at the World Cup in Nove Mesto last year, so it didn’t go that way”Prussia reconstructs the situation in the world games in the Czech Republic when she stayed without a medal. “The fact that you now have a reason to be happy is amazing.”
The circle that started with disappointments in Nove Mesto closes. Now that Franziska Preuss wraps her parents firmly, it breaks out of her too. As after the silver medal in the sprint, the Ruhpoldinger cries with emotion. Before the next interview with the Norwegian broadcaster “TV2”, Preuss has to gather.
Because the tears are still running uncontrollably, the world champion puts on her sunglasses. “I think parents know best what is going on in an athlete when things are not going. So they were probably just as relieved as I do.”
“The perfect race at the right time”
And that is exactly what applies. When Elisabeth and Georg Preuss come to the interview a few minutes later, they shine over both ears. “We have had so many tough years behind us. It’s just a satisfaction now. Nobody wished her like us, who we were always so close”reports Mama Preuss.
Again and again Franziska Preuss could not do justice to the great expectations in the past. Again and again she had shown fantastic approaches, so as not to call up and fail the entire potential at the crucial moments. Plagued by many illnesses and injuries, the Bavarian never really got going.
“Lost the version”
Everything is different this season. The overall World Cup leader rests, makes crystal-clear plans before each race and follows them down to the last detail. This is exactly what she succeeds in persecution – a “perfect” race, as she says herself. She is the only top athlete to remain flawless at the shooting range – if you watch Prussia, you never doubt that the victory only leads over her.
But the past few years have also painfully taught Franziska Preuss’ parents that competitive sports can be so brutal and cruel. This is spared Elisabeth and Georg in the arena of Lenzerheide. “After the fourth shoot, I briefly sat on the floor because I lost the version. These are unique moments.”
The competition grants Preuss the success
How much the biathlon world – and that expressly also means international competition – Franziska Preuss gives this success in the statements of the Swiss Lena Haecki -Gross. The local hero, who trains with Franziska Preuss together in Ruhpolding, became fifth in the persecution.
“I was so happy for Franzi. That is deserved”says the 29-year-old, who had run together with Preuss together at the top of the field. “So far she has put on such a great season. I’m really proud of her.”
Coach Olsbu Roiseland shaved the hair
A world champion title, especially such an emotional one, often writes his side stories. One of them is that of the German coach Sverre Olsbu Roiseland. The evening before the persecution, the Norwegian made a promise at the team meeting. “I told the girls, if one of them gets gold, I shave my hair on my head. Well, let’s see what it looks like.” It has not been handed down whether his wife, ex-world-class biathlete Marte Olsbu Roiseland, was inaugurated.
A “Bierle” to celebrate the day
So far it is Franziska Preuß’s World Cup. To celebrate the first World Cup gold medal of their career, the parents Elisabeth and Georg want to trigger accordingly. “We are now drinking a ‘Bierle’ and seeing what else happens”says Elisabeth Preuss and laughs. Does Franzi also drink one? Papa Georg turns, shakes briefly on his backpack – it clinks. “There are a few ‘Bierle’ in it – and Franzi can already drink one. We finally come from Bavaria!”
It is a “full circle moment” – the circle that closes. After all the disappointments of the past few years there is a happy ending for Franziska Preuss and her family. And the crazy thing is: at the World Cup is only half -time. Perhaps Franziska Preuss will start compiling a second medal set next week.