The big wave of retirements is currently rolling in biathlon. In the German team, figurehead Denise Herrmann-Wick of all people is breaking up. Nevertheless, Olympic champion Michael Rösch is confident about the future.
“When the ‘Mutti’, as she was called in the German team, says ‘bye’, that means a lot,” the TV expert commented on Herrmann-Wick’s career end to “Eurosport”: “The good thing for the team was that many could hide behind her and develop at the same time.”
As an example, Rösch named Hanna Kebinger and Sophia Schneider, who had delivered a “sensational World Cup”. “Now Denise, who as a front woman has intercepted everything due to her performance, is gone for the time being. The team has to be completely reorganized for the coming season,” said the 39-year-old.
Biathlon future: Rösch remains optimistic
Rösch remains optimistic about the German biathlon future. “Vanessa Voigt was again very stable this season and hopefully Selina Grotian will come at some point in the distant future,” said the 2006 Olympic relay champion.
The field is “incredibly open” for women in particular. “In the sprint alone, there were six different winners in seven races,” Rösch recalled. Only Herrmann-Wick was able to win two races and therefore also secured the small crystal globe.
“Of course, this will make it difficult for the German women to assert themselves, but I’m basically optimistic,” said Rösch.
wave of retirements in biathlon
With Marte Olsbu Røiseland, Anaïs Chevalier-Bouchet, Tiril Eckhoff and Mari Eder, there has been a veritable wave of resignations from the women in recent days.
“So many big names have already given up and it just kept going because there are always new people coming to stimulate the sport. In the pre-season, more than 20 athletes ended their careers,” the ex-biathlete recalled: ” Among them was an Erik Lesser, who said that the last icon from Germany was gone. But it’s still going on – and it will continue now.”