After Franziska Preuß’ resignation, the German women’s biathlon team is faced with the question of who will be the new model athlete. This winter, the DSV ski hunters are running behind the demands.
While the last trimester of winter begins for the biathletes in central Finland on Thursday, Franziska Preuß is enjoying her new freedoms. After retiring at the end of the Winter Olympics in Italy, she is still on cross-country skis, but without any pressure. And without rushing – without constantly looking at the clock. “You could stop, you could stop by. That’s something new and I’m really enjoying it right now.”she said during a visit to the BR program “Blickpunkt Sport”.
The big star is missing
The overall World Cup winner from the previous season is tearing a hole in the German team with her competitive retirement. “We currently don’t have the big, dominant individual stars of past years, especially after Franziska Preuß’ career ended.”DSV biathlon sports director Felix Bitterling explained just a few days ago. The search for a new one “X Factor Athletes” be one “Sisyphean work”.
It’s a situation that the German Ski Association (DSV) knows all too well. Time and again, those in charge at the DSV, who are used to success, are faced with the task of having to replace a retiring top athlete in order to meet the great internal and public pressure for titles and World Cup victories.
Neuner, Dahlmeier, Preuß – and now?
While the German team at the turn of the millennium was very broad with Uschi Disl, Andrea Henkel and Kati Wilhelm, in the years that followed there was usually one outstanding athlete. Magdalena Neuner’s star was already rising in the final phase of Wilhelm’s career. After her early resignation in 2012, it was her last year Laura Dahlmeier had a fatal accident the German winning runner and model biathlete.
When Dahlmeier also retired at the age of just 25, Preuß had won her first World Cup victory in an individual race a few months earlier. But it would take almost five years until the next one. In the meantime, it was Denise Herrmann-Wick who ensured the rare World Cup victories. But who will fill the gap in the team this time?
Voigt is still not in top form
Perhaps most likely Vanessa Voigt. With 16th place, she is the second best German in the overall ranking this season, three places behind Preuß. The Thuringian has repeatedly indicated throughout her career that she is a top athlete. She was on the podium five times in individual competitions, but so far she has been unable to reach the top podium.
In the previous season, Voigt had to end the season early after a serious respiratory infection. This season isn’t going quite as planned for the 28-year-old either – there are a lot of fluctuations. She finished in the top ten four times in twelve races. Seventh place in the sprint in Hochfilzen and the mass start in Le Grand-Bornand were her best results in the World Cup.
She also achieved fourth place in the Olympic singles. She wants now “attack again in the last trimester”she could there “always release forces once again.”
Only Grotian managed a World Cup victory
With Preuß’ retirement, Selina Grotian is the only active German ski hunter to win an individual race. But even the top talent has recently stagnated slightly in their development. She and Julia Tannheimer definitely have what it takes to become difference-making athletes. But the next step must follow.
Overall, Bitterling sees women “Several very promising athletes who can develop further and grow into these roles in the future. Overall, we have powerful athletes who need an almost perfect day to get on the podium.”
Preuß is not worried about German biathlon
This situation does not look rosy for men at the moment either. Since Benedikt Doll’s success in the Oberhof sprint at the beginning of 2024, we have been waiting for an individual success. But here too, Bitterling praises the latest developments.
“The development of the next generation remains an important component. We are seeing a lot of positive developments in the IBU Cup in particular, especially among the men. That’s why Leo Pfund, who has performed well in the IBU Cup and at the European Championships in recent weeks, will join the World Cup team for the first time in Kontiolahti.”he explained.
The retired front woman of the German biathlon in recent years is also not worried about the future: “I’m still optimistic that things will continue well. Biathlon Germany, somehow it keeps going.”she said: “Every sport has its ups and downs.” Sometimes you have to “Maybe have your back against the wall and then develop further in several areas”. She herself has also experienced this in her career.
Source: with material from dpa and SID
