The home world championship is the highlight of the season for the German biathletes. But for national coach Mark Kirchner, Oberhof is not the focus of preparation.
At the end of November, the biathletes in Kontiolahti, Finland, start the new winter. The highlight of the season is the home World Championships in Oberhof in February.
At the most recent World Championships in 2021 in Pokljuka, Slovenia, things did not go as hoped for the German team: two silver medals (Arnd Peiffer in the individual and the women’s relay) was the disappointing result. At the Olympic Games this year in Beijing, the record was similarly meager: Denise Herrmann-Wick was able to win gold in the individual and silver in the women’s relay, but two medals in a major event are not enough for the DSV.
New trainers signed
Changes were made to the coaching team so that the record in Oberhof would be better. With the Norwegian Sverre Olsbu Röiseland as the new discipline trainer for the women and Uros Velepec from Slovenia for the men, the DSV got foreign know-how.
Röiseland is the husband of eleven-time world champion and three-time Olympic champion Marte Olsbu Röiseland, who also won the overall World Cup last season. Alongside his wife, he has coached the Norwegian women’s B team for the past five years. Velepec has been the head coach of the Slovenian and Ukrainian women’s and men’s national teams.
National coach Kirchner demands constant performance
The German biathletes are gearing up for the home world championships – even if national coach Mark Kirchner emphasizes that the home world championships are not the focus of the preparations: “I try consciously not to see the home World Cup as something special. The tension and awareness of the home World Cup comes soon enough.”, said the national coach in an interview with BR24 Sport. It is important for him to constantly call up the performance – “It doesn’t matter whether it’s over ten kilometers in Oberhof or over ten kilometers in Pokljuka – the routes remain the same.”
The German biathletes have already convinced at the Summer Home World Championships in Ruhpolding.
Kirchner praised his team, they were homogeneous and had shown at the Summer World Cup, despite strong competition from Sweden, that they can recommend themselves for the top places. The 52-year-old is hoping for one “passable entry” into the World Cup season – because “that gives self-confidence for the coming races”according to Kirchner.
Question mark behind Vanessa Hinz
It is still questionable whether Vanessa Hinz will be present at the World Cup opener in Kontiolahti. After a series of injuries in the summer, the three-time relay world champion is still hoping for a punctual start to the biathlon season. After the Summer World Cup in Ruhpolding at the end of August, the 30-year-old complained of back problems, fell ill afterwards, tore the lateral ligament in her left foot and also contracted tendonitis in her right hand.
“I’ll be honest: When that happened at the same time, I lay in bed at night and just cried.”
The Bavarian is not yet able to train to the full extent, but would still like to compete in Finland. “That should work,” said Hinz, who still has to fight for one of the six places in the women’s team. “If I don’t make it, then I have no place in the World Cup,” said Hinz, who won Olympic bronze with the relay in Beijing in February.
Herrmann-Wick “doesn’t have an infinite number of energy shells”
Olympic champion Denise Herrmann-Wick will definitely be there at the start of the World Cup “a maximum of good competitions” hopes. But similar to the Olympics, the Saxon wants to divide up the season for the World Cup. “You don’t have an infinite number of energy bowls”said the 33-year-old.
Doll wants to keep working on shooting
For Benedikt Doll, who won the mass start in Antholz last winter and was on the podium twice in Ruhpolding, the focus is on the World Championships. However, the 32-year-old is self-critical: “Last year I was able to improve my shooting performance. But I still don’t have the level that is necessary and that I want to reach.” But his new coach Velepec was able to give him some input.
Hopes for consistent shooting performance: Benedikt Doll
Kirchner hopes for a “good and cool event”
The World Championships in Oberhof will take place from February 6th to 19th. Despite the Ukraine and energy crisis, national coach Kirchner is hoping for one “good event with hopefully many spectators.”
“After all the investments in Oberhof, it would be desirable for it to be a good and great event. But of course there are question marks about the current global and energy-political situation.”