Just 2.2 seconds separate the sprint winner Denise Herrmann-Wick and the Swede Hanna Öberg before the pursuit on Sunday. Oberhof is hoping for the next biathlon holiday.
It was a tiny thing, just 2.2 seconds, that Denise Herrmann-Wick was ultimately faster than Hanna Öberg and thus secured sprint gold at the home World Championships in Oberhof in Thuringia. Unlike in other disciplines, biathlon is not the end of the story.
The two athletes take the 2.2 seconds gap with them into the pursuit on Sunday (February 12, 2023, from 1:25 p.m. in the live ticker with videos). So another close duel is imminent, only this time there will be four shots at the Rennsteig. So will the first big German biathlon holiday be followed by the next? Or will Scandinavia fight back? Finally, Linn Persson started third and Marte Olsbu Röiseland fourth. The latter was already more than half a minute ago.
Herrmann-Wick treats himself to a day off
“When you start number one, the aim is not to come in tenth. There’s only full throttle and attack to defend number one.”DSV sports director Felix Bitterling has already given the route for the pursuer.
Herrmann-Wick allowed herself a lot of rest on Saturday for her next big medal attack, she skipped official training due to the adverse weather. Because she is expecting a very difficult mission – and doesn’t sound quite as bold as Bitterling: “There have been a lot of women on the podium this winter, there are many hot contenders”said the 34-year-old: “The starting position is of course a good one, but I’m also the hunted. You have to work for everything from scratch.”
Duel as a jump-start for top athletes?
She does not see the narrow deficit of the silver winner Öberg, who has been running in the world class for years: “It’s good that Hanna isn’t that far behind me. Then maybe we can get together.” This would actually lead to the duel that the experts are expecting – if the nimble biathletes do well at the shooting range.
Shooting was always Herrmann-Wick’s shortcoming, after all she switched from cross-country skiing to biathlon. This season, however, she hits the mark remarkably well. And is thus even more the leading figure in the German team, in whose shadow the seventh Sophia Schneider could also fight for a medal. The World Championship debutant is just over 30 seconds behind bronze.
Herrmann-Wick: “A different peak than the 2022 Olympics”
The sprint gold should give Herrmann-Wick the necessary looseness – to experience more biathlon holidays at home. Because at “To be at the top of a home World Cup is another peak than at the Olympics last year. It’s different in terms of emotions when everyone can be there.”explained Herrmann-Wick.
Husband Thomas, her family and numerous friends cheer on the Rennsteig along the route. That was after two Corona years “a real satisfaction”. And it shouldn’t end after the first individual race.