Franziska Preuß Discusses the Crisis of the German Biathlon Men

The German men's biathlon team is currently facing a challenging period. While the women’s team, led by Franziska Preuß, excelled last season, the men are struggling with inconsistent performances and finding their place among the best in the world.

Franziska Preuß, along with Olympic champion Michael Rösch, discussed the situation of the German men's biathlon team in the SPORT1 show Spotlight.

"They Have What It Takes"

Preuß highlighted the struggle of the men's team but remains optimistic, believing that only slight adjustments are necessary: "In biathlon, sometimes you only need to tweak one little thing by two millimeters, and suddenly it all works again." She emphasized that the team's potential is strong, stating, "They definitely have what it takes."

However, Rösch pointed out that changes in expectations for the team are necessary. Referencing former stars like Simon Schempp and Arnd Peiffer, who have retired, he noted: "We need to let go of the notion that the men’s team will always finish in the top six or on the podium."

Rösch stressed the importance of the mental aspect of competition, stating that dread or pressure to perform has often hindered the team's results. "If you come into a sprint event with three or four mistakes, you won’t even earn a polite handshake," he remarked.

Despite these hurdles, Rösch remains hopeful. He believes the recent appointment of a new coach could ignite a renewed spirit in the team: "I hope the new coach, Tobias Reiter, will bring new energy to the squad, and that we will see improvements next winter."

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