German Biathlon Shake-Up: National Coach Resigns After World Championships

German biathlon experienced a seismic shift following the World Championships in Lenzerheide. National coach Uros Velepec, 58, announced his resignation with immediate effect, a decision that has shocked the community. The announcement came just two days after the end of the Championships, where the men's team could only secure a bronze in the relay—a result that fell far short of the team’s goals as they look ahead to the Olympic season in 2026.

In a statement released by the German Ski Association (DSV), it was explained that Velepec had asked to be relieved of his duties immediately. The plan is to utilize the remaining three World Cup weeks to make the necessary adjustments and start setting the course for the upcoming Olympic Games.

The decision has been described by Olympic medalist Michael Rösch as akin to a “moderate earthquake” in the world of biathlon—an upheaval felt by all involved. While Velepec emphasized that his resignation was not a completely spontaneous decision, it was clear that the team’s current performance level was not meeting the ambitious targets they had set together. The shortcomings in both pacing and shooting have delayed their progress compared to the absolute elite.

Tobias Reiter, who had recently been coaching the men in the IBU Cup, has been appointed as his successor. DSV Sport Director Felix Bitterling mentioned that although the timing of the resignation is unusual, the upcoming three weeks are critical for establishing a new momentum. Reiter, along with former Olympic medalist Filbrich, is tasked with getting the team back on track and preparing them for the Milan/Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.

Velepec, who previously served as the discipline coach for the World Cup women’s team from 2014 to 2018 and later as the head coach in the IBU Cup, stated that his decision was driven by the need for a fresh impulse and possibly a new approach to team management. With the Olympic Games just a year away, he believed that a timely change in leadership was necessary to achieve future success.

With Sport-Informations-Dienst (SID)