No chance for medals
After all, biathletes collect relay courage
02/13/2022, 12:09 p.m
Medals are not possible for the Germans, they already know that before the start of the biathlon pursuit. It’s about damage limitation after the worst sprint result in the Olympic Games. They succeed – Denise Herrmann and Co. want to attack again in the season.
The mortgage was too big, for Olympic champion Denise Herrmann and Co. there was nothing more than damage limitation. As expected, the German biathletes had nothing to do with the awarding of medals after their worst sprint result at the Olympics in the unusual “winter wonderland” of Zhangjiakou, but gained a lot of self-confidence in the pursuit for the relay race on Wednesday (8.45 a.m.CET).
Vanessa Voigt, who started the race from position 18, fought her way up to twelfth place after a good shooting performance (1 penalty loop) as the best German over 10 kilometers. Franziska Preuss (1) improved by 15 places to rank 15, individual Olympic champion Denise Herrmann came in 17th after three penalties.
At the top, sprint Olympic champion Marte Olsbu Röiseland showed the next gala performance, the Norwegian defended her lead and won her third gold. The eleven-time world champion also triumphed in the mixed relay, and she also finished third in the individual.
Silver went to Sweden’s Elvira Öberg (3 penalties/+1:36.5 minutes) ahead of Tiril Eckhoff (Norway/3/+1:48.7). Norway’s Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold, who was still third after the last shooting, had to be guided out of the target area after a slump on the final lap.
Voigt crashes before penalty loop
Due to the historically weak sprint, the German athletes went into the pursuit with minimal chances of a medal. Herrmann had a huge backpack of 1:45 minutes behind, Voigt started the race as the best German 14 seconds earlier.
The unusual snowfall in Zhangjiakou – precipitation in the dry region is extremely rare – presented the material managers with a tricky task. Finally, fresh snow covered the artificially groomed cross-country ski trails, and the temperatures of around twelve degrees below zero were also significantly lower than on the previous days.
24-year-old Voigt, who is making her Winter Games debut in China, stayed cool despite falling while entering her only penalty loop after the first prone. Herrmann’s two penalties in the last standing prevented an even bigger leap forward.