Biathlon: Puff Wins EM Gold in the Individual – Fichtner Takes Silver

At the European Championships in Martell, Italy, the German biathletes delivered a strong performance on the 15 km individual course. Johanna Puff claimed the gold medal with a time of 47:06.4, finishing 9.5 seconds ahead of her teammate Marlene Fichtner, who took silver. The key to their success was their error‐free shooting during all four shooting bouts, which allowed them to gain a decisive advantage on a challenging track.

After the race, a visibly emotional Puff said, "It means a lot to me. It has been a hard season," crediting her flawless shooting as the cornerstone of her victory. Earlier in the season, the 22‐year-old had struggled with health issues that cost her a spot in the World Cup team, but a return to form—in part through her participation in the Antholz relay—helped her bounce back.

In a closely contested race, Swedish competitor Anna-Karin Heijdenberg may have recorded the best skiing time but lost ground due to three missed shots. In addition, Stefanie Scherer managed to secure a top-ten finish by placing ninth. With the European Championships serving as a last chance for the team to secure a spot at the upcoming World Championships in Lenzerheide (scheduled for February 12-23), the German side remains hopeful for further success, especially after Vanessa Voigt was forced to end her season early for health reasons.

Overall, the performance provided a significant morale boost for the German team, signaling that a strong comeback on the international stage may be underway.