Decision at the last shot
German women’s relay team runs sensationally to World Cup bronze
February 17, 2024, 3:09 p.m
The German women’s biathlon relay surprisingly won the bronze medal on the penultimate day of the World Championships. The quartet has to accept the loss of their best runner at short notice, but in the end counters the shock with strong nerves.
The German biathletes won bronze in the relay at the World Championships in Nove Mesto, securing the German team their third medal. Despite the short-term absence of the ill final runner Franziska Preuss, Janina Hettich-Walz, World Cup debutante Selina Grotian, Vanessa Voigt and the late nominee Sophia Schneider surprisingly celebrated this success.
A year after taking silver at the home World Championships in Oberhof, the DSV quartet had nine spares and were only beaten by France and Sweden. At the finish the gap was 1:14.2 minutes. Silver was enough at the previous three World Championships, and fourth place in Östersund in 2019.
Two and a half hours before the start of the race, the German Ski Association informed about Preuss’ failure. It remains to be seen whether the 29-year-old, who is suffering from a “new sore throat”, will be able to compete in the mass start on Sunday (2.15 p.m./ZDF and Eurosport). “Losing Franzi always hurts us. Everyone knows the value and how good she can be,” said sports director Felix Bitterling before the start of the race on ZDF.
Schneider stepped in and led the team from fifth to third place, although individual runner-up Hettich-Walz in particular had problems on the cross-country ski trail. “For me it was a combination of everything,” said the starting runner. “There were places where it was sulky. I had to really struggle with my skis and then I didn’t have the best day. I don’t have any words right now.” When catching up, the DSV quartet also benefited from the competition’s mistakes at the shooting range.