Birgit Schölzhorn on the sidelines of the Biathlon European Championships in Martell. © am

Birgit Schölzhorn: South Tyrol's biathlon newcomer

At the Biathlon European Championships in Martell, Italy won three medals this weekend. Birgit Schölzhorn, who caused quite a stir, also played a part in this.

03. February 2025

From: dl

In addition to Patrick Braunhofer and Linda Zingerle, who won gold and bronze in the pursuit, Birgit Schölzhorn also had an extremely successful European Championship. The woman from Wipptal played a major role in Italy's women's relay team winning bronze on Sunday. Schölzhorn also impressed with an 8th place in the pursuit.

On Friday we had a quick chat with the 21-year-old in the mixed zone. She was already extremely happy with 18th place, before she went one better at the weekend. It hadn't even been clear beforehand that Schölzhorn would even be allowed to run in the relay. This is her first season in the IBU Cup and she has consistently finished in the top 30.

Together with Linda Zingerle, Rebecca Passler and Ilaria Scattolo, Birgit Schölzhorn (2nd from right) won bronze. © Josef Plaickner

At her first European Championship, Schölzhorn showed her best career results. "It was a big jump from the IBU Junior Cup to the IBU Cup. Of course, I didn't expect to win in my first season (laughs). No, seriously, I was pretty consistent this year anyway. I'm happy with that," Schölzhorn explained in an interview with SportNews.

Olympics in Antholz not (yet) an issue

In the summer, she did the Carabinieri course. "I'm grateful that I've closed this chapter," said Schölzhorn at the time. Her role model in the World Cup is the Norwegian Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold, "because she's always up for a laugh." In addition to biathlon, Schölzhorn has a passion for art - especially drawing and crocheting.

“Otherwise you wouldn’t do all this” Birgit Schölzhorn asked whether the World Cup and the Olympics would be the goal at some point.

Her goal is to stay in the IBU Cup for now. When asked whether the Olympic Games in Antholz next year were already an issue, Schölzhorn said with a laugh: "No, that's too far away." But who knows: the Sterzing native experienced how quickly things can change in sport, not least at the weekend. "Of course it is the goal of every athlete to be in the World Cup or at the Olympics at some point. Otherwise you wouldn't do all this," "Bibi" summed it up.