Second medal in Lenzerheide: “Simply happy”: Preuss cheers over the World Cup silver

Franziska Preuss was only very annoyed about the narrowly missed gold before cheering on the return to the World Cup platform ten years after her first individual medal. “Want to have a good thing,” said the 30-year-old after silver in the sprint of Lenzerheide and grinned. In Switzerland, the Bavarian rewarded the second medal in the second race of the World Championships. “The backpack has now become a bit easier. I am just relieved and glad that it worked out right now,” said the overall World Cup leader.

Preuss lacked the victorious French woman Justine Braisaz-Bouchet after 7.5 kilometers only 9.8 seconds, who ran as unleashed on the final round and later picked up gold with tears in the eyes. Bronze went to the Finn Suvi Minkkinen, which was only 0.2 seconds behind Prussia. “The pressure was already big,” said Preuss, who also shed a few tears of joy with her team: “You would also like to prove yourself that you take the step onto the podium at the climax. I was already tense today.”

Good starting position for persecution

Two days after bronze with the mixed relay, Preuss brought himself into a promising position for her longed-for first World Cup gold, on Sunday (12.05 p.m./ZDF and Eurosport) she will attack everything. The fact that it was not enough for the title was in the Swiss Alps of an annoying penalty round.

“I have already tried to shoot riskily or take a controlled risk, but that was perhaps a tick too fast,” said Preuss: “It was not far away, but mistakes are mistakes. That was very annoyed.”

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. “At the World Cup race you have to take a certain risk. So I went out – either top or flop,” said Preuss: “I’m totally happy that it worked out so well.”

The partner of ex-world champion Simon Schempp was clearly on the medal course, the basis for jumping on the podium 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. “You shouldn’t use time to grieve, but you should be happy about it,” said sports director Felix Bitterling: “Franzi did great, the result is fantastic.”

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 Election Ruhpoldinger tormented herself with infections and illnesses until surgery of the sinuses brought improvement. Prussia was able to significantly increase their training scope, which is why it is now much more resilient. 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 Contiaolahti, only a mistake in the last shoot prevented that she wasn’t already winning a single title back then. 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.

The other German starters did not make it to the top ten in the first individual competition of the title fights, but Sophia Schneider (1 mistake) came very close as an eleventh. The 19-year-old Julia Tannheimer also took 17th place in her World Cup debut. Selina Grotian finished 24th after three shooting errors.