Second medal in Lenzerheide: “Simply happy”: Prussia fetches silver at biathlon World Cup

For Franziska Preuß, her first one-time World Cup was grasped, but in the end Justine Braisaz-Bouchet grabbed her longed triumph. With silver in the biathlon sprint in Lenzerheide, the 30-year-old celebrated the podium ten years after her first World Cup individual medal. The Bavarian lacked 9.8 seconds for the French woman, who ran on the final round as unleashed. Bronze went to the Finn Suvi Minkkinen, which was only 0.2 seconds behind Prussia.

“I didn’t even notice that. When she was over, I was in the changing room,” said Preuss on ZDF about the scene when she was still trumped by the later Braisaz-Bouchet. “I’m happy about second place. If one had told me that in the morning, I would have signed it immediately. I’m just happy.”

Good starting position for persecution

Two days after bronze with the mixed relay, Preuss brought himself into a promising position for her longed for her first World Cup gold, on Sunday in the persecution she will put everything on attack.

In the Swiss Alps, the overall World Cup leader made a penalty round. “Sure, a shot standing, he annoys me a bit. I tried to shoot riskily, maybe it was too fast,” said Preuss.

But Braisaz-Bouchet also had to complete 150 extrameters. As the best run, she was 15.2 seconds faster in the trail than Prussia. The season of the Olympic champion has so far been anything but optimal. “I only focused on this race and tried to forget the past,” said Braisaz-Bouchet. “I knew I was two or three seconds behind Franziska and left some strength.”

In the case of slight snowfall, Prussia in the Roland Arena ran the fastest first round at a height of 1400 meters. And she also quickly and safely put her into the mark, including gusts, including gusts. The partner of ex-world champion Simon Schempp was clearly on the medal course, the basis for a medal was laid.

But then she had to turn into the penalty round, but she was allowed to hope for the title for a long time. Especially since her worst rival in the overall World Cup, the French woman Lou JeanMonnot, failed twice and was only sixth. But Braisaz-Bouchet countered, who at the final round had the advantage of knowing the times of the competitors.

Success after years of disappointment

Preuss had traveled to the Swiss canton of granary allegations with high expectations. In ten out of 14 seasonal races, she had already stood on the podium this winter and, thanks to two victories, she also secured the leadership in the overall World Cup. So far it has been the best winter of your career, which was made possible thanks to an operation last spring.

For years, the Bavarian tormented herself with infections and illnesses until an operation of the sinuses brought improvement. Prussia was able to significantly increase their training scope, which is why it is now much more resilient and able to set the pace. Small setbacks no longer throw them off track as in the past when they ended their season several times or had to do without important races due to illness.

Prussia with privilege in the team hotel

Her career began at a young age when she won the season with the season and World Cup silver shortly after her 21st birthday almost exactly ten years ago. In the Finnish Contiaolahi, only a mistake in the last shoot prevented that she didn’t already win a single title. However, this remained its only solo badge up to the current World Cup. 13 times she made it into the top ten – but it never went forward.

In the meantime, she is called “Grandma” team, she is the only German biathlete who has been 30 years. Preuss is a role model for the young generation and has the privilege in the team hotel to be the only one to live in a single room. It seems quite possible that it will be the last World Cup of your career for you. In Switzerland, it would only be too successful as possible until February 23, until the view is entirely on the Olympics. Preuss also wants to shine at the winter games with the biathlon races in Antholz 2026. After that, it might be over.

The 20-year-old Selina Grotian, who made your first World Cup win in the mass start of Le Grand-Bornand in December, was also part of the extended group of favorites. After bronze at the start of the World Cup in the mixed relay, the high-talented man from Garmisch-Partenkirchen shot with a total of three mistakes in the lying attack from the top ratings and was 24.

The 19-year-old Julia Tannheimer, the second youngest of the entire starting field, left only one slice and was able to be satisfied with her World Cup debut as 17th. Sophia Schneider also remained in the target with a mistake as eleventh.