When Austria’s biathletes ran on the cross-country ski run in the Kuyangshu Nordic Center in Zhangjiakou yesterday, an icy wind blew against them at temperatures of around minus 20 degrees. But that didn’t dampen the good mood in the team, which will be going into the Olympic competitions with a mixed relay on Saturday. “The wind will definitely be a big issue in our races, but it was really cool on the track – it suits me technically,” reported world champion Lisa Hauser, who came across as quite relaxed despite the high expectations.
This is probably also due to the fact that she shook off the nervousness after entering China. Waiting for the first PCR test result was associated with a queasy feeling. “It was a relief that we were all negative in the biathlon team,” admitted the 28-year-old from Kitzbühel.
ÖSV head coach Ricco Groß, who is taking part in the Winter Olympics for the ninth time, had a similar view. “After landing, we felt like we were on Mars. Everyone was standing around us in their white protective clothing, but these are procedures that we have to put up with. We can’t influence that,” said the 51-year-old German, who has won eight Olympic medals (four gold, three silver and one bronze) as an active player.
His protégé Felix Leitner was positively surprised by the general conditions in the Olympic village. “It’s better than many people imagined. Ever since I’ve been here, I’ve been really good at it. The quarters are really nice and big, each of us has a single room. Everything is huge and also modern. I have something like the ski jump never seen it before,” explained the 25-year-old, who also likes the food – “from Chinese to European”.
“Don’t feel trapped”
Hauser enjoys the freedom of movement: “We don’t feel imprisoned at all, it’s like four years ago in Pyeongchang – only with the obligation to wear a mask.” As a reminder: In 2018 Corona was only known as a Mexican beer brand – and Hauser not yet as an absolute world-class biathlete.
Source: Nachrichten
