Dorothea Wierer: “You don’t understand how difficult biathlon is”

The preparation for the season is now entering its final phase. How fit is Dorothea Wierer a good three weeks before the start of the World Cup in Östersund? “I had a low, difficult phase for around two months now. A lot of things came together at the same time: training, preparation and countless appointments. Now I'm glad that in Sweden we isolate ourselves from everyday life and we don't have to think about anything except biathlon. These two weeks are extremely important mentally, now the foundation is being laid for a successful season.”

At the same time, the training camp is also a sporting assessment. “Exactly, there are several test events with the Swedish national team coming up in the coming days. Since the Scandinavians have been practicing on skis for over a month and have been able to use their training advantage so far, the results should certainly be viewed with caution. However, the comparison fight certainly creates incentives. The tingling slowly starts again.”

Speaking of Scandinavians: Will everything come down to the duel between Dorothea Wierer and Norway next winter? “There are a whole range of contenders for victory in the World Cup. But the Norwegians are an incredibly strong team. The level of their team is simply extremely high, they push each other even at a young age and ultimately reach the top of the world in large numbers. This is different for other nations. In Italy, for example, we don't have this wide range of female biathletes, so not all of them are at a world-class level. But we're trying to make the most of our opportunities and annoy the big winter sports nations. We have managed this quite well so far. And we will attack again this winter, I promise.”

Dorothea Wierer wants to stand up to overall World Cup winner Tiril Eckhoff (front) this winter. © APA/afp / MICHAL CIZEK

Have you changed anything in your preparation compared to other years? “This summer I formed a training group with Lukas Hofer, Dominik Windisch, Didier Bionaz and Tommaso Giacomel. They are athletes who push themselves to the limit in every training session and encourage you and cheer you on even on difficult days or in moments of extreme tiredness. Some of these were really tough sessions and this unusual comparison was definitely a new experience for me. The extent to which this will pay off will only be seen over the course of the winter.”

The Winter Olympics will begin in almost exactly 3 months. How often do your thoughts wander to Beijing? “That doesn’t matter at the moment. I know that expectations are high - especially for those people who are not directly involved in the sport. They just don't understand how difficult biathlon is. People like to compare it with cross-country skiing, but shooting is missing there as a big variable that can turn everything upside down. No matter how good you are in shape, predictions are hardly possible. That’s why I can’t go here and say I’m going to win a medal in Beijing.” “I wouldn’t bet on myself.” Dorothea Wierer But you are definitely someone who seeks the spotlight and thereby pushes yourself even further. Isn't that a fine balancing act? "That's true. Because on the one hand, I'm happy when people cheer for me. This means that I have achieved something and my results are being rewarded. On the other hand, you shouldn't forget that to win you not only need the right form but also a good deal of luck. The fact that we compete in 6 races at the Olympics and therefore de facto have 6 chances of winning a medal definitely plays into our hands as biathletes. But let’s put it this way: I wouldn’t bet on me in Beijing.”

You mentioned expectations. How do you deal with this pressure? “I’m used to the pressure now. In the World Cup, but also later at the Olympics, I will do what I always do: I will go there and try to simply enjoy the race, soak up the atmosphere and thereby build a positive mood for myself. Then everything usually goes by itself for me. I hope this will help me to cope with adverse circumstances.”

What adversities do you expect? “On the one hand, I mean the expectations you mentioned, but also, for example, the Corona requirements that have to be met at the competition locations. They are of course useful and necessary, but at the same time the protocol over a season is also exhausting. In addition, there are the local competition conditions that you have to deal with. At the Olympic Center in China, for example, it can be very cold and windy at the shooting range, so it's important to keep a certain cool. But usually it's not difficult for me. I hope to get through the upcoming season successfully with my positive attitude and a bit of calmness.”

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Dorothea Wierer: “You don’t understand how difficult biathlon is”

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