The men’s mass start race at the Biathlon World Cup took place without a German podium finish. A DSV star even injured himself and had to be treated after crossing the finish line.
According to the German Ski Association, biathlete Johannes Kühn suffered a laceration to his head when he fell on his last lap of the mass start on Sunday. The 32-year-old had his gun to his head when he fell.
Kühn was able to get up quickly and finish the race. The TV images showed him initially lying on the ground in the finish area. Medical assistance rushed to the scene to examine the biathlete.
The good news: The DSV gave the all-clear via Instagram afterwards. “But he is doing well so far, further medical care will now follow.”
Sports director Felix Bitterling also explained on “ZDF” that the veteran was “ok”: “He fell and the barrel hit his head. He bled a little. The doctors were right there at the finish. I think that’s it nothing worse.”
Doll initially looks promising in the race
Johannes Kühn ended up in 14th place in the mass start; with three shooting errors, he crossed the finish line 1:48 minutes behind world champion Johannes Thingnes Bö. The best German ski hunter in the final race of this year’s Biathlon World Championships was Philipp Nawrath (three shooting errors, +1:25 minutes), who came tenth.
Benedikt Doll, who won bronze in the individual competition and thus the only medal for the German men at the World Championships in Nove Mesto, was still in good shape in the race after two shooting sessions. In the end, he also made three mistakes (+1:32 minutes), which meant he took twelfth place. Justus Strelow (1/1:57 minutes) crossed the finish line in 16th place.
The DSV women won two other medals at the World Cup in the Czech Republic. Janina Hettich-Walz won silver in the individual and also took bronze in the relay.