First overall World Cup victory?: Preuss before coronation in Oslo: This is how biathlon is financially worthwhile

Franziska Preuß could now easily afford the cover baggage for the trophy case on the plane. The biathlon world champion has already earned more than a quarter of a million euros in the best winter of her career alone through prize money. With a successful last weekend at the Holmenkollen in Oslo and the first triumph in the overall World Cup, the sum would increase significantly. Even if the 31-year-old is not about money at all, successes in the most popular TV winter sport of Germans are also financially comparatively lucrative.

However, the starting point is extremely difficult. With only 20 points, Prussia leads before the sprint on Friday (4.15 p.m./ARD and Eurosport) in the fight for the large crystal ball in front of the French Lou JeanMonnot. The Bavarian has been ahead since mid -December. It stands 1048 of 1028. A maximum of 270 points are still available on the Holmenkollen via Norway’s capital per athlete, 90 for every win.

No other biathlete hits so safely

After the start of 7.5 kilometers, following and mass starting will follow in the cradle of the Nordic skiing. “I still have the small advantage,” said Preuss, who took a short visit to the home in Ruhpolding for relaxation before arriving: “I just do my best, you can’t do more anyway.”

Preuss collected four World Cup medals in Lenzerheide in February and received 55,000 euros for it, the highlight was gold in the persecution thanks to a perfect race without shot errors. In general, she is the best in the field with the weapon: 92 percent hit performance is outstanding. Coupled with strong mileage, this means that Preuss is able to be at the forefront at the end. It has long been their big goal.

More prize money than most ski jumper

The overall victory would bring in 40,000 euros, second place still 32,000 euros – of course before taxes. For a normal World Cup victory, 15,000 euros will be distributed by the World Association IBU. The prize money has been increased in recent years.

For comparison: Preuss is currently the top German earner in winter sports and has even received more prize money with a total of 260,000 euros than most male ski jumpers. According to official statistics, Andreas Wellinger is currently the most financially successful German with a good 155,000 euros, for women it is Selina Friday with just over 80,000 euros.

In the alpine area, Emma Aicher is the only German in the prize money tops with a good 160,000 euros. Overall, the alpine stars earn significantly more than biathletes. At the Alpin World Cup in Saalbach there was 61,000 euros for gold, Preuss received 25,000 euros for her World Cup victory and can now be the sixth German overall World Cup winner. Most recently, Laura Dahlmeier wore the yellow jersey 2017 until the end.

The time of the many diseases is over

A year ago it would have been almost absurd for Prussia to only think of this success. She had to end one season early because she was plagued by infections and illnesses. Even during a winter, she had to expose them several times and do without important races at World Championships. Only an operation of the sinuses finally brought relief last spring.

“I just realize that there is no stove in the body that limits me,” said Preuss: “Overall, I was able to train better with significantly higher sizes, and I feel more resilient.” That has been clearly seen since November. In 18 World Cup races, she was on the podium eleven times, had hardly any bad appearances and earned the respect of the competition. “She seems inviolable,” JeanMonnot said before the World Cup.

Competitor JeanMonnot won much more often

The 26-year-old is the largest adversary of Preuss, last year she became behind the Italian Lisa Vittozzi overall second. JeanMonnot then won seven times this World Cup season, Prussia only once. The results of the World Cup in Switzerland are not taken into account for the invoice. “We both make a super good season,” said Preuss. “No matter how it turns out, we can be proud of what we did.”

And Prussia can do more than just take a trophy on the return journey. Even in two discipline ratings, it is still ahead before the final on the Holmenkollen. In the sprint seven points in front of the Frenchess Justine Braisaz-Bouchet, in the mass start with 41 points ahead of Elvira Öberg from Sweden. The IBU pays the discipline winner 12,000 euros, the second is completely empty. Only in the fight for the small ball in the persecution she has no chance with 79 points behind JeanMonnot.