Erik Lesser will be the new sports show expert and will analyze the biathlon competitions in the sports show with Arnd Peiffer in the coming season.
Lesser ended his career in spring 2022 after strong performances in his last races. With ten medals at the Olympic Games and World Championships, the 34-year-old is one of the most successful German biathletes in recent history. In addition, Lesser already made a name for himself as an athlete with clear statements, also on topics that went beyond day-to-day sporting business.
“Of course I’ve also taken a critical look at biathlon reporting in general over the last few years, but now I’m looking forward to the exciting task of doing my part. I hope that Arnd will take me by the hand and introduce me a little to the sports show team. No master has fallen from the sky yet, but it can’t be that difficult.”said Lesser.
Arnd Peiffer remains in the biathlon team
Arnd Peiffer will remain with the Sportschau biathlon team. The 2018 Olympic champion had already impressed viewers last season with his detailed analyses.
“I felt extremely comfortable as an expert in the Sportschau team and I’m happy that we’re continuing together. We’re already working on further improvements to our analysis tools for next winter. And I’m hopeful that by then I’ll also be able to give Erik ours technical systems, and as all biathlon fans know, he’s always talked a lot“Peiffer said.
Katrin Günther, sports director of the biathlon leader Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg explains: “With Erik Lesser and Arnd Peiffer, we have a dream duo in the expert position. Erik is not only quick-witted and not at a loss for the truth, but also extremely well networked as a long-standing athlete spokesman. Arnd Peiffer was already actively involved in technical and content-related matters for us last season further development of the analyzes and presents them with great sovereignty.”
Peiffer and Lesser follow Kati Wilhelm and Magdalena Neuner
Arnd Peiffer and Erik Lesser succeed the longstanding biathlon experts Kati Wilhelm and Magdalena Neuner.
ARD sports coordinator Axel Balkausky: “It is very important to me to thank these great colleagues. Kati Wilhelm and Magdalena Neuner shaped our broadcasts with their clear assessments, their expertise and their charisma. They were just as popular with our viewers as they were with our team. We have made countless strong shows together and look forward to welcoming her back in front of or behind the camera from time to time in the coming season.“
Erik Lesser and Arnd Peiffer will alternate as experts at the World Cups in the 2022/23 season. During the home world championships in Oberhof, the former “biathlon double room” is at the start together. However, Lesser’s premiere as a sports show expert will take place well before the start of the next winter sports season: on August 27th, together with Christian Dexne, he will comment on the races at the Biathlon Summer World Championships in Ruhpolding.