No medal for DSV men
Biathletes shoot themselves to the catastrophe record
02/18/2022, 12:03 p.m
For the second time in Olympic history, the German biathletes remain without a single medal. In the mass start, the German quartet is half promising in the race, then a lot goes wrong on the windy shooting range. The women also go away empty-handed in the last competition.
Germany’s men’s biathlon failed to win a medal at the Winter Olympics for the first time in 12 years. In the final mass start in Zhangjiakou, China, Benedikt Doll finished eighth and was the best DSV ski hunter. The 31-year-old made six shooting errors and was 2:31.4 minutes behind the new Olympic champion Johannes Thingnes Bö. The Norwegian won his fourth gold at that Winter Games, matching the mark of his compatriot Ole Einar Björndalen from the 2002 Salt Lake City Games.
In the mountains northwest of Beijing, silver went to Martin Ponsiluoma of Sweden, 40.3 seconds back. Bronze went to Vetle Sjaastad Christiansen of Norway, 1:12.5 behind the winner. Johannes Kühn was 10th, 2:38.3 behind Bö with five penalties. Roman Rees was 14th, 2:50.8 back after three penalties. Philipp Nawrath finished 23rd after seven penalties in 3:55.7 minutes after gusts. “Of course it hurts, but it doesn’t help,” said Nawrath: “We have to keep working and see that we can attack again in the future.”
Nawrath and Doll still had good prospects halfway through the 15-kilometer race, but fell back decisively after three and two penalties respectively in the first standing stage. In gusty winds and minus 17 degrees, Doll and Nawrath only hit one of the five targets in the last shooting and had to run four penalty loops.
For the second time without precious metal
This means that the biathlon competitions for the DSV men, like in Vancouver in 2010, end for the second time without a medal. Four years ago in Pyeongchang there were seven more medals including the women’s team. Highlights were gold twice for Laura Dahlmeier and once for Arnd Peiffer. Both have since resigned.
The German biathletes had previously also remained without a medal. Two days after bronze for the women’s relay, Franziska Preuß took eighth place in the mass start. The 27-year-old made four penalties and after 12.5 kilometers she was 1:26.4 seconds behind the new Olympic champion Justine Braisaz-Bouchet from France.
Silver went to Norway’s Tiril Eckhoff, while Eckhoff’s compatriot Marte Olsbu Roeiseland secured bronze. Individual Olympic champion Denise Herrmann was 13th after five missed shots, Vanessa Hinz was 15th, Vanessa Voigt was 18th. The last German Olympic champion in the mass start was Magdalena Neuner in 2010 in Vancouver. Thanks to the women, there were a total of two medals for the German team in 2022. In the first individual race, Denise Herrmann won gold over 15 kilometers, the women’s relay followed with bronze. “We can go home satisfied with the gold and bronze medals,” said women’s head coach Kristian Mehringer on ZDF.