New task for Ricco Groß: The former top German biathlete and current coach will take over the Slovenian national team with immediate effect.
Until a few months ago, the 51-year-old was in charge of the Austrian selection. After the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, where Team Austria failed to win a medal for the first time since 2006, ÖSV did not extend the contract with Groß.
Now the native Saxon dares a new adventure in Slovenia. “We were able to agree on a four-year cooperation,” revealed Tomas Globocnik, head of the Slovenian Biathlon Federation, on Monday in Pokljuka, where the national teams were presented.
Groß’ assistant coaches are the previous head coach Janez Maric for the men and Bostjan Klavzar for the women. “We have a lot to do,” announced the new coach full of energy.
From now on, his protégés are Jakov Fak, Klemen Bauer, Miha Dovzan, Rok Trsan, Lovro Planko, Anton Vidmar, Alex Cisar, Ziva Klemencic, Polona Klemencic and Anamarija Lampic, who has just switched from cross-country skiing to biathlon.
Ricco Groß was the figurehead of German biathletes for many years
When he was active, Groß had a decisive influence on the sport of biathlon in Germany. At the Olympic Winter Games he was with the German relay between 1992 and 1998 three times in a row and 2006 Olympic champion, in individual races he won two silver and one bronze medal.
In addition, the long-standing ski hunter became world champion nine times, five of them with German relay teams. His last successes at world championships were two titles in 2004 in Oberhof.
Three years later, Groß ended his career and began training as a coach. He also worked as a TV expert for ARD.