Winter sports news blog
DSV star is missing from the start of the biathlon
Updated 11/20/2024 – 4:19 p.mReading time: 13 min.
The winter sports season has begun. In our news ticker you will find all the important news about ski jumping, biathlon, alpine skiing and cross-country skiing.
Led by Franziska Preuß, the German biathlon team starts the World Cup. The German Ski Association (DSV) nominated a total of twelve athletes for the races in Kontiolahti, Finland, which start on November 30th with the single mixed relay.
In addition to Preuß, who is once again planning a new start after persistent health problems, Vanessa Voigt is also in the women’s squad. The 27-year-old took a break in the summer due to mental problems, but is fit again in time for the start of the season. Johanna Puff, Julia Tannheimer, Julia Kink and Selina Grotian are also there in Kontiolahti.
Roman Rees is missing from the men’s team. The 31-year-old “trained well” over the summer, said DSV sports director Felix Bitterling. But before the qualifying competitions in Vuokatti (Finland), Rees “fell ill and is therefore out of shape. He is concentrating on the IBU Cup to build up his form.”
Rees started last season furiously with a World Cup victory and even briefly wore the yellow jersey. The DSV athlete was then set back by a Covid infection.
The German men’s team in Kontiolahti consists of Johannes Kühn, Justus Strelow, Philipp Nawrath, Philipp Horn, David Zobel and Danilo Riethmüller. Veteran Benedikt Doll ended his career after last winter.
Simon Spiewok stops ski jumping prematurely. As the Märkischen Zeitungsverlag portal come-on.de reports, the young DSV athlete decided to end his career at the age of just 22. Spiewok has already moved back to his hometown of North Rhine-Westphalia and is now studying business administration at the Open University of Hagen.
Injuries were apparently also a trigger for the decision. In April he had to have surgery on his ankle. He wasn’t really relieved of the pain. “In July and August I kept asking myself: Is it worth it?” Spiewok told come-on.de. “I decided to go a different route. It wasn’t just the ankle,” he explained. His body also paid tribute to competitive sport in other places.
Skeleton Olympic champion Hannah Neise came second at the World Cup in Pyeongchang (South Korea). The 24-year-old from BSC Winterberg only had to admit defeat to Briton Freya Tarbit on the second day on the 2018 Olympic track. Janine Flock (Austria) came third ahead of Jacqueline Pfeifer from RSG Hochsauerland.
Neise didn’t get off to a good start in both runs, but was able to improve from fourth place after the first run. In the first World Cup of the season on Saturday she came sixth. Corinna Leipold, who is competing in the World Cup for the first time this weekend, finished tenth on Sunday. The skeletonis start the season first this year, the bobsleigh athletes don’t join them until the beginning of December.
Lena Dürr had a good chance of winning after the first run. In the end it wasn’t quite enough for them at the start of the season. She still ended up on the podium. Read more about this here.
Ski racer Lena Dürr has the best chance of a podium finish at the first Slalom World Cup of the season. The 33-year-old is in second place in Levi, Finland, after a strong first round, but she is already 0.60 seconds behind the leading World Cup record winner Mikaela Shiffrin. The second run starts at 1 p.m. German time (here in the live ticker on t-online).
What are the key challenges faced by young athletes in biathlon and other winter sports today?
Interview Between Time.news Editor and Biathlon Expert
Time.news Editor: Welcome, everyone, to another insightful edition of our expert interview series. Today, we’re diving into the world of winter sports, and specifically biathlon, as the new season kicks off. Joining me is renowned biathlon coach and expert, Dr. Anna Müller. Thank you for taking the time to chat with us today, Anna!
Dr. Anna Müller: Thank you for having me! It’s always a pleasure to discuss the exciting developments in winter sports, especially as we head into a new season.
Editor: The German biathlon team is making headlines, particularly with the absence of Roman Rees at the start of the season. Can you share your thoughts on this and its potential impact on the team?
Dr. Müller: Absolutely. Roman Rees has been a strong performer for the team, notably starting last season with a World Cup victory. However, he fell ill before the qualifying competitions and has had to focus on rebuilding his strength through the IBU Cup. His absence means the team is missing a key player, but it also offers an opportunity for others to step up, which can be vital for team dynamics.
Editor: It seems this year’s German team is led by Franziska Preuß. With her persistent health issues and Vanessa Voigt’s mental health break, how do you assess the morale and readiness of the athletes heading into the World Cup in Kontiolahti?
Dr. Müller: Leadership in a team like this is crucial, and Franziska has shown immense resilience. Her ability to return from health challenges will be inspiring for the younger athletes, such as Vanessa, who has also battled back to fitness. Mental health is just as important as physical health in sports, and I believe this support structure will help instill confidence in the team as they kick off in Finland.
Editor: Speaking of younger athletes, we recently heard about Simon Spiewok’s decision to retire at just 22. What do you think are the prevalent issues leading athletes to reconsider their competitive careers at such a young age?
Dr. Müller: Simon’s case highlights a significant issue in elite sports—injuries and the pressure associated with high performance. For many young athletes, the physical toll becomes overwhelming, and they start to question whether the sacrifices are worth it. The shift towards prioritizing mental health and well-being is encouraging, but it certainly poses challenges for recruitment and continuity in competitive sports.
Editor: That’s a thoughtful perspective. As we look at the current roster for the German men’s team, which includes Johannes Kühn and Justus Strelow but lacks seasoned athletes like Benedikt Doll, how do you view the balance of experience and youth in this context?
Dr. Müller: Balancing veteran experience with fresh talent is pivotal. Veterans bring invaluable wisdom and race-day experience, while younger athletes can inject vitality and new strategies. The blend can lead to a more cohesive team atmosphere; however, the loss of someone like Benedikt Doll means that now, the younger athletes may face pressure but will also have to step up and prove their mettle right from the start of the season.
Editor: Before we wrap up, looking beyond biathlon, we saw Hannah Neise, the skeleton Olympic champion, finish second at the World Cup in Pyeongchang. How does her performance signal a broader trend for German athletes in winter sports?
Dr. Müller: Hannah’s success illustrates the depth of talent in Germany’s winter sports community. It shows that our athletes are competitive across various disciplines, which can create a positive feedback loop—when one sport excels, it encourages others. This inter-sport synergy can elevate levels of preparation and performance as they all strive for excellence on the international stage.
Editor: Wise words, Anna. As the winter sports season progresses, we’ll be keenly watching how these dynamics play out. Thank you for sharing your insights with us today!
Dr. Müller: Thank you for having me! I look forward to watching the season unfold.