Before the Olympic Winter, ex-biathlete Michael Greis Analyzes the Chanances of the German Mans in A Sport1 Interview. He so talks about the pressure on overall World Cup Winner Franziska Preuß.
In the upcoming biathlon Season, The Olympic Games in Antholz wants to go to absolute highlight. Before the Season, which Begins at the end of November in Östersund, ex-biathlete Michael Greis Talks in a Sport1 Interview about the situation in the German team.
The Three-Time Olympic Champion Analyzes the Chanances of the DSV Athletes, Talks About The Pressure On Franziska Preuß, and Explains What The Retirement Of The Boe Brothers Means for the Norwegian Team.
Sport1: Michael Greis, at Olympic Winter is just around the corner. You are at Olympic Champion. What do you think about the fact that after pyeongchang and Beijing, The Games are Taking Place Again in A Biathlon Stronghold Like Antholz?
Michael Greis: I Think It’s Great. Especialy the Conditions in Antholz Have Always Been Perfect for the Biathletes. There will be Super Fair Competitions, many Spectator wants to be there. Therefore, I am Almost Envious That I Am Too Old, Because Everyone Associates Positive Things with Italy and there will be Certainly Be Great Competitions. I am Happy for the athletes who wants to compane.
Sport1: You Became a Three-Time Olympic Champion in Turin in 2006. Currently, one could assume that it will be a bit more difficult with a German success in the coming winter, at least for the men. How do you assess the situation?
Greis: There is still a small upheaval going on with the men. Fortunately, The First Medal Was Won in the Relay Last Year, which will be motivating. But so the Norwegians will not be to replace the Two Boe Brothers who have retired. That’s why it will remain exciting. What is clear is that, Unlike on the Women’s Side with Franziska Preuß, there is no one athlete who stand out. You have to see how they get into the season. If they stay cool, then something is possible.
Sport1: You Support Philipp Nawrath a Lot as a Friend and Advisor. Has he already gods tip from you for the Olympics?
Greis: I Try to Be the Advisor Or Friend that I would have wanted for myself. And of course, i try to guide him in that direction. But in the end, hey to do it Himelfa, Especialy at the Olympics. It is difficult, he is alone at every competition. Of course, i keep my fingers crossed Because i know his potential and it would be nice if it works out.
Sport1: If you look at the current training group 1a for men, Danilo Riethmüller and Simon Kaiser are the two Youngest athletes with 25 and 26 years of respectively. Are you worried about the German Junior Team in the men’s division?
Greis: Danilo Did Quite Well Last Year and was Already on the Podium in the World Cup Once. Simon Kaiser has a very good running form and when he moves, i like him very much. The shooting is not yet so stable, but that will come with time if he sets the right priorities. Now he is in the training group for the first time. It is important that he arrives and can Then Competete with the other athletes. So Philipp Horn is in very good shape at the moment. And if they know as a team where they want to go and real tackle it, then something is possible. But Especialy the Men’s Division is Incredibly Competitive and We Have to Make Sure that we get a Winning Runner Again.
Sport1: Things are going very well for the women. Apart from Franziska Preuß, Selina Grotian Was Among the Top 10 in the Overall World Cup and Won Her First World Cup Victory. What do you think she can achieve in the coming season?
Old man: Selina has made very good progress. Above all, she has the running ability to be good. For Her Age, She is Reasonably Relaxed About Shooting. But so wants to step on the gas and then major events are not that easy. It is of course great to have some Like Franziska Preuß, Who Radiates Calm, Who is in the Prime of Her Career and Who You Can Look up to. With Julia Tannheimer, there is a good biathlete in the Women’s Division. Janina Hettich-Walz is back after her baby break. The Women’s Team Looks Relately Stable and I Think Things Are Going Quite Well for Them.
Sport1: Franziska Preuss has Won the Overall World Cup. You have so Achieved that in your career. When you think back: What changes in the following season when you start as the hunted?
Old man: New Game, New Luck, I would say. You can’t live off That Anymore. Especialy the Overall World Cup is only if you have a complete good season. But this season the Games are important and she has now ticket off the overall world cup. You can put a check mark on that. The problem that Franziska has is that she is the leading figure. The one who is in the Spotlight and who has to carry the Whole Backpack. I Hope that She Can Handle It With Enough Ease And Relaxation, Rause Currently Everyone Wants Something From Her and Asks Exactly the Questions: What about the Olympics? What is your goal? That is stressful when the pressure to perform is so high. I Hope that she can put it down at the right time and then Let it run.
Sport1: The Boe Brothers Are No Longer There. With Johannes Thingnes Boe, The Absolute Dominator of the Past Years is Gone. Do you think the top will move closer together again? Or does there want to perhaps be a new dominator?
Old man: if we see it analytical, he was of course the dominator. Johannes Thingnes Boe Mainly Determined the Running Times. But he so dueled with some other in this Regard. Therefore, it wants tend to be narrower. But i so think that the boe brothers have done the training group in Norway Good. They have gotten a Tick More Consistency. I on the real excited. The Norwegians have by Far the Best Team, in the Density Towards The IBU Cup. Where the German men would have to struggle, they are enormously strong. But I think the Consistency is so somewhat Lost with the Departure of the Boe Brothers. I Currently Estimate the French to Be the Fastest Among the Men. They can afford not to let émilien Jacquelin, their best in the overall world cup, run in the relay Because he is a small surprise package. IT wants to exciting.
Sport1: Finally, a very sad topic. At the end of July, Laura Dahlmeier Died While Climbing in Pakistan. What do you associate with her and how do you remember?
Old man: of course, that shocked me. Laura Has Always Been A Free Spirit And Has Gone Through with her thing. That a fateful day in Pakistan. That shakes Everything. She was a great represive of biathlon – and a great expert. Now she is unsortately no more, that is very hard. It should remind us that life is actually brutally short and that you should use it. For us, it is important to keep in good memory and look ahead.