At the Biathlon World Championships in Oberhof the favorites are actually fixed
Successor wanted! This could become a motto of the Biathlon World Championships in Oberhof. Because when the first edition of the world championships took place at the Grenzadler on the roof of the Thuringian Forest in 2004, two stars had sought and found each other - and cleaned up. Liv Grete and Raphael Poiree. The Norwegian, who had already achieved considerable success under her maiden name Skjelbreid, achieved the feat in Oberhof of becoming the first athlete ever to win four titles. And because her then husband also won gold three times, seven of 10 possible titles went to the Poiree family. The former gold family (the marriage was divorced in 2013), lived in the Panorama Hotel, acted close to the people, were within reach of the fans and therefore enjoyed almost as much popularity with the public as the German stars, who came to the title in the pursuit through Ricco Groß. However, the men's relay team will certainly be remembered in particular, in which Frank Luck shot two clear rounds in his last home race and thus laid the foundation for the following Ricco Groß, Sven Fischer and Michael Greis to run to the World Cup title. In total, the DSV aces won seven medals in 2004.
Another dream duo from France?
And this year? Germany's hopes actually rest first and foremost on a young lady who could possibly announce her retirement from competitive sports after the World Championships - on Denise Herrmann-Wick. The Olympic champion was determined to compete at the World Championships in her home country and accepted the drudgery of the pre-season preparation, always with the aim of enjoying the unique atmosphere in the arena in the Thuringian Forest once again. Herrmann-Wick could follow in the footsteps of Kati Wilhelm at the home race; the Thuringian won bronze in the relay with Germany 19 years ago - and, like the Saxon, had once switched from cross-country skiing to biathlon. If you look at the possible top stars in the women's race, the first person you look at is of course France's Julia Simon. But to be fair, there are more than a dozen contenders for exactly a dozen titles to be awarded. For example, Marte Olbu Roiseland, who had to miss the first World Cup trimester due to illness, but now seems to be getting back into shape. But also Vanessa Voigt from Seligenthal could jump on the podium at her home event if her running and shooting performances result in a balanced symbiosis. The 25-year-old from Thuringia already has an Olympic medal, a World Cup medal at home would be at least as nice as a relay bronze in Beijing.
Boe like a hurricane
In the men's event, things are simpler: You can reduce the World Cup to the simple formula: If you want to win at the Grenzadler, you have to get past Johannes Thingnes Boe. He has dominated the winter so far at will. But it is even simpler: If you don't want only Norwegians to stand on the podium, you should also shoot better and run faster than the men Sturla Holm Laegreid and Vetle Sjastad Christiansen, because they were always good behind the younger of the Boe brothers. And because with Johannes Dale and Tarjej Boe there are still two Norwegians in the top eight of the world ranking list, the coaching team now has a problem because only four of the five boys are allowed to compete in the relay.
The closest to the level of the heirs of the great Ole Einar Björndalen are probably Quentin Fillon Maillet from France and the Swede Martin Ponsiluoma. From the DSV point of view probably Benedikt Doll and Roman Rees. Therefore, the hosts are likely to look for their medal chances in the mixed and relay competitions. What the fans, up to 160,000 are expected, if the weather plays along to some extent, but guaranteed to please. Many of them have been loyal to the sport of biathlon in Oberhof for decades and some of them will certainly remember the fantastic atmosphere that prevailed at the victory of the Germans in 2004, when Michael Greis almost tripped over the black-red-gold flag three meters before the finish line. But that's another story...
Another dream duo from France?
And this year? Germany's hopes actually rest first and foremost on a young lady who could possibly announce her retirement from competitive sports after the World Championships - on Denise Herrmann-Wick. The Olympic champion was determined to compete at the World Championships in her home country and accepted the drudgery of the pre-season preparation, always with the aim of enjoying the unique atmosphere in the arena in the Thuringian Forest once again. Herrmann-Wick could follow in the footsteps of Kati Wilhelm at the home race; the Thuringian won bronze in the relay with Germany 19 years ago - and, like the Saxon, had once switched from cross-country skiing to biathlon. If you look at the possible top stars in the women's race, the first person you look at is of course France's Julia Simon. But to be fair, there are more than a dozen contenders for exactly a dozen titles to be awarded. For example, Marte Olbu Roiseland, who had to miss the first World Cup trimester due to illness, but now seems to be getting back into shape. But also Vanessa Voigt from Seligenthal could jump on the podium at her home event if her running and shooting performances result in a balanced symbiosis. The 25-year-old from Thuringia already has an Olympic medal, a World Cup medal at home would be at least as nice as a relay bronze in Beijing.
Boe like a hurricane
In the men's event, things are simpler: You can reduce the World Cup to the simple formula: If you want to win at the Grenzadler, you have to get past Johannes Thingnes Boe. He has dominated the winter so far at will. But it is even simpler: If you don't want only Norwegians to stand on the podium, you should also shoot better and run faster than the men Sturla Holm Laegreid and Vetle Sjastad Christiansen, because they were always good behind the younger of the Boe brothers. And because with Johannes Dale and Tarjej Boe there are still two Norwegians in the top eight of the world ranking list, the coaching team now has a problem because only four of the five boys are allowed to compete in the relay.
The closest to the level of the heirs of the great Ole Einar Björndalen are probably Quentin Fillon Maillet from France and the Swede Martin Ponsiluoma. From the DSV point of view probably Benedikt Doll and Roman Rees. Therefore, the hosts are likely to look for their medal chances in the mixed and relay competitions. What the fans, up to 160,000 are expected, if the weather plays along to some extent, but guaranteed to please. Many of them have been loyal to the sport of biathlon in Oberhof for decades and some of them will certainly remember the fantastic atmosphere that prevailed at the victory of the Germans in 2004, when Michael Greis almost tripped over the black-red-gold flag three meters before the finish line. But that's another story...
Fotos: K.Voigt Fotografie