Sudden Resignation – ‘Moderate Earthquake’ Shortly After Biathlon World Championships

German biathlon shook after the unexpected departure of head coach Uros Velepec. Velepec announced that his decision was not entirely spontaneous, although it was partly influenced by the team's underwhelming performance at the recent Biathlon World Championships in Lenzerheide, where the men's team failed to secure any individual medals.

In his statement, Velepec explained that the current situation was difficult and that he felt responsible for the team’s short- and medium-term prospects. He stressed that a change in direction was necessary in order to reignite the team’s ambitions ahead of the 2026 Olympic Games. Michael Rösch, commenting for Eurosport, described the timing as extremely dramatic – likening it to a 'moderate earthquake' – given that the resignation came just as three World Cup events were still pending.