Should make biathletes faster and better on the cross-country ski trails: Jens Filbrich. © Martin Schutt/dpa

A cross-country skier is behind Germany's biathlon boom

Jens Filbrich's influence can be seen after just a few months. While some may have been astonished at the promotion of the former cross-country skier to the new assistant coach of the German biathletes, it quickly became clear: the 44-year-old is an “improver.” This is reflected in the results and the feedback Filbrich receives from the athletes.

09 January 2024

From: dpa

“We have taken a step forward in terms of running,” said Johannes Kühn. And veteran Benedikt Doll is still learning at the age of 33: “Training is one thing. But the meticulousness, the energy and motivation that infects you is just great with Jens. It’s fun to work like that in a team.”

The new approach seems to be right: after the first four World Cups, there are seven individual podium places - that's two more than in the entire previous season. The first trimester with the races in Östersund, Hochfilzen and Lenzerheide was the men's best start to the season ever.

“It was an extremely nice start as a coach for me and you look back on the weeks with gratitude,” said Filbrich in Oberhof. Things will continue like this in Ruhpolding from Thursday.
After the withdrawal of long-time national coach Mark Kirchner, the German Ski Association turned everything around with biathlon sports director Felix Bitterling, appointed a foreigner as head coach for the first time in Uros Velepec, Slovenia - and promoted Filbrich. The Suhl native is involved in running and not only has years of experience, but also great success with Olympic silver and bronze as well as seven World Cup medals.

Improved in running

“The complexity of biathlon is brutal, I'm just absorbing it,” said Filbrich about his new task, which he also enjoys immensely: “I was welcomed with open arms by everyone from the start. You noticed right away when we took a new direction together that something would happen together.”
Filbrich is a professional, meticulous worker, and radiates positive energy and competence. In order to learn new movement patterns and improve what they have learned, athletes need a lot of trust - and Filbrich has achieved this in a short time.

Jens Filbrich during his active time, here with Dietmar Nöckler. © APA/epa / HENDRIK SCHMIDT

He sat down with each athlete and analyzed training data to identify individual priorities and potential. The training methodology has been changed to include more volumes and less intensities, as has the selection of training camps. “It was a collaboration and I’m glad that everyone is motivated to work on it,” said Filbrich.

Filbrich scores points with cooperation. As an ex-athlete, he could “empathize very well,” said Philipp Nawrath. For Philipp Horn, “Fips” also fits into the team as a person and “I think it's really the first time in the World Cup team that someone runs the routes with the athletes and says before the competition: You have to stay calm here or not here is the part where you have to attack. Someone who simply walks the route with the boys.”
For Filbrich it is the beginning of a “long journey that will also be successful. And if you broadcast that as a coach, then the athletes will follow you too.” Filbrich took the first steps towards this.