Biathlon: Tannheimer, Riethmüller and Co. - "Young Wild Ones" impress in the German team

At the World Cup opener in biathlon, Franziska Preuß and Philipp Nawrath stood out with their podium finishes in individual races, marking a bright start for Germany. However, it was the younger athletes who marked their presence in the competition. In the upcoming World Cup, more young talents are expected to shine.

For a brief moment, Franziska Preuß sank to the ground after the final mass start in Kontiolahti. Before the last shooting round, she had great chances of victory, but a shooting error dropped her to fifth place. Frustrated, she returned to the course. However, the excitement rekindled when her young teammate Julia Tannheimer came speeding past her. "When Julia passed me, she had so much enthusiasm; it was contagious," Preuß later remarked.

Mass start: Three Germans in the Top 5

Preuß joined Tannheimer, and along with Vanessa Voigt, they managed to catch up with Swedish athlete Anna Magnusson. Preuß ultimately finished third, celebrating her 16th World Cup podium. This success was aided by the vivacious energy brought by her younger teammate Tannheimer. Both attended the Flower Ceremony together, with Preuß third, Voigt fourth, and Tannheimer fifth.

Tannheimer’s performance was remarkable for a 19-year-old. Competing four times at the World Cup opener, she placed sixth in the sprint and fifth in the mass start, thereby meeting the qualification criteria for the World Championships. "This is unreal; I can hardly believe it!" she expressed with joy after her noteworthy displays.

"This is a huge motivation for others"

Last winter, Tannheimer already indicated her potential with a 15th place finish in her debut World Cup race in Ruhpolding. In Kontiolahti, she successfully asserted her capability alongside other young talents. Preuß noted how invigorating it was to see someone genuinely enjoying the challenges in sports, which bolstered motivation across the team. Tannheimer's enthusiasm serves as a motivational beacon, especially to veterans like Preuß, who is now in her twelfth World Cup season.

Bitterling praises the "youngest athlete"

The German sports director, Felix Bitterling, expressed satisfaction with the results at the World Cup opener, particularly praising Tannheimer’s impressive performances, saying, "Very, very gratifying."

Besides Tannheimer, Danilo Riethmüller also made an impact as a newcomer. Competing in his 11th World Cup race, he secured an impressive fourth place in the mass start, showcasing significant progress in his performance.

Bitterling outlines strategy: "Peak in January and February"

Despite the few top finishes for Germany at the Kontiolahti World Cup, Bitterling explained the team's strategy, focusing on peak performances in January and February. While he recognized the importance of tactical planning, he also stressed the need for improved focus during shooting.

Moving forward, two other promising youth athletes, Marlene Fichtner and Simon Kaiser, have been selected to compete at the World Cup in Hochfilzen, further enriching the German biathlon roster.