Franziska Preuß doesn’t really want to go that far this biathlon season. An expert is keeping his fingers crossed for the overall World Cup winner for the 2026 Olympics and sees her chances in a race as “a bit better.”
Preuß is going into her last winter games. The 31-year-old is still missing an individual Olympic medal from her collection. In 2022 the German relay won bronze in Beijing.
“Franzi would have absolutely earned the medal and if I could imagine that, I would choose the last competition, the mass start,” said biathlon expert Michael Rösch before the start of the Olympics on “Eurosport”.
The 42-year-old analyzed: “In general, I think their chances are similar in all races, and even a bit better in the individual race. Quite simply because they shoot four times and a mistake means a penalty minute.”
At the recent Biathlon World Cup in Nove Mesto, Czech Republic, it was the individual event where Preuß was able to celebrate her first podium finish of the season. Overall, the reigning pursuit world champion is still looking for her top form.
Preuß “the beam figure” in the German biathlon team
Preuss “continues to be the shining figure in the German team. It’s good for the younger ones that there is someone in the team who buffers a lot with her experience. I recently saw the video when she ran the Olympic relay in Sochi in 2014 as a young athlete. For me, it would complete the story if she were rewarded with an individual medal 12 years later,” said Rösch.
Preuß recently announced the end of her career in biathlon. The ski hunter left it open whether the resignation would take place immediately after the Olympics in Italy or after the World Cup season in March.
“I thought about it over the summer. Things have developed in such a way over the last few weeks that I’m fine with it now,” said Preuß about her decision.
*We use affiliate links in this post. If you purchase a product via these links, we receive a commission from the provider. There are no additional costs for you. Where and when you buy a product is of course up to you.
