Franziska Preuß has announced the end of her successful career. The overall World Cup winner had recently hinted in this direction. Now she is making it official.
Biathlete Franziska Preuß has announced the end of her successful career. “After this season, it’s definitely over,” Germany’s Sportswoman of the Year said on Friday in a virtual media round.
Whether she will stop immediately after the Olympic Games in Antholz or take part in the last World Cup trimester, the overall World Cup winner left open. In recent weeks, it has developed in such a way that she is “fine” with the decision.
Franziska Preuß ends her career
Biathlon: Preuß has fulfilled her dreams
In the previous season, Preuß, who had repeatedly been set back by health problems in the past, fulfilled several dreams by winning the big crystal globe and World Championship gold in the pursuit.
At the Winter Games, she has so far only won a bronze medal with the relay team, and now she wants precious metal in an individual race. But the winter has not gone according to plan so far; before the season highlight, she only reached the podium once.
“This serenity is not quite there as I would like it to be,” Preuß explained: “There are several reasons for this. The summer was not entirely smooth. First the shoulder problems, then the hand operation. That gradually drains your energy. I have always been able to pull myself together and was motivated. Before the season, I was relaxed, then there was the case with the infection in December, which sets you back. Since then, I haven’t found it so easy to get into this flow.”
Preuß: Currently “definitely not the easiest phase”
It is currently “definitely not the easiest phase,” said the Bavarian: “But I’m not giving up. You have to get through it.” Preuß had already caused a stir after the Olympic dress rehearsal in Nove Mesto. “Perhaps those were my last World Cup races,” she told Sportschau then.
The Olympic competitions in Italy begin on February 8 with the mixed relay. The last race is the women’s mass start on February 21. After that, the World Cups in Kontiolahti, Otepää, and Oslo are on the season schedule.