World Championship Dream Shattered for German Biathlete Star – Ends Her Season

German biathlete Vanessa Voigt will not be competing at the upcoming World Championships in Lenzerheide, Switzerland, as health issues have forced her to end her season.

In a statement issued by the German ski federation, the former World Championship and Olympic gold medalist announced that she is stepping away from the remaining races. Voigt, 27, has been battling respiratory problems throughout the season and has had hardly any starts in recent competitions.

On Instagram, she wrote, "After undergoing several new medical check-ups, I do not wish to compete in any more races this season. I can hardly find the right words at the moment, and it will surely take some time to find them, but my health remains my top priority."

Voigt, who was open about her mental struggles last summer, had a promising season onset and secured two World Cup podium finishes in December. However, with only two starts in January due to her ongoing illness, her dream of competing at the World Championships has been shattered. The federation noted that she will need time to recover as her focus now shifts toward next year’s Winter Olympics in Italy.