Italy's biathlon boss: "The medals should count for others"

At the Biathlon World Championships in Lenzerheide, 6 of 12 decisions have been made. Halftime, so to speak. SportNews therefore asked Italy's biathlon director Klaus Höllrigl for an interview and asked him for his interim assessment.

19. February 2025

From Lenzerheide

From:
Alexander Foppa

Italy's national biathlon team has had to do without last year's overall World Cup winner Lisa Vittozzi all winter, and now Dorothea Wierer is also out of the World Championships. In addition, Tommaso Giacomel is currently having no luck at the shooting range. How can things go well in the next few days? Before today's men's individual event, we asked Klaus Höllrigl. As biathlon director, the 45-year-old from Latsch is primarily responsible for the Azzurri's performance.

Mr. Höllrigl, what is your interim assessment?

Klaus Höllrigl: "We are satisfied, let's put it this way. We achieved four top ten places in total and were at the flower ceremony three times, which is impressive. Of course we would have liked to have won a medal, especially since with a bit of luck we could have made it onto the podium in one or two races. But my job is not to judge the athletes by their placings, but by their performance. And they were good."

But let’s be honest: At a World Cup, what counts first and foremost are the medals.

"Of course, you're right. But in my role, I can't come here and say: OK, now let's count the medals. I have to evaluate the performances objectively and analyze them with the coaching staff - with the aim of getting the maximum out of them. Others are welcome to take over the counting of the medals."

“I would say: a straight 7” Höllrigl's previous World Cup score

What grade would you give your team for the first half of the World Cup?

"I would say: a solid 7. We have a good level of performance in the team, several athletes who are waiting in the wings. Now Michela Carrara has also shown that she can run at the front. With one or two fewer shooting errors, we might be able to make it into the top 3."

Tommaso Giacomel was already very close.

"Yes, but also the mixed relay. With a little more luck at the shooting range, even more would have been possible. But that's biathlon, this excitement, this unpredictability is what characterizes this sport - and that's a good thing."

How much does Dorothea Wierer’s absence hurt?

"Of course it's annoying that Doro isn't fit for the highlight of the season. But complaining is pointless. A failure can happen in biathlon. These are all high-performance athletes who push themselves to the absolute limit. It happens that the body doesn't cooperate. Doro will now try to get back into training and then we'll see when she's ready to compete again."

Dorothea Wierer's health is also a concern for her boss, Klaus Höllrigl. © Teyssot / Pierre TEYSSOT

Who will step in for Wierer if she is unable to run the single mixed relay on Thursday?

"The decision is still completely open. We will monitor Doro's health and analyze the performance data of the individual athletes. Hannah Auchtentaller and Michela Carrara are on about the same level. But let's not forget: In a single mixed relay, the mental aspect is also of enormous importance."

If you had one wish for the rest of the World Cup, what would it be?

"Unfortunately, I cannot wish for anything, so my answer is hypothetical. In any case, I hope that we continue on the path we have chosen, that we all keep calm and that in the end, perhaps we will still be able to cheer on one of our athletes on the podium."

The rest of the World Cup program:

Wednesday
15.05 p.m.: Men's singles

Thursday
16.05 p.m.: Single mixed relay

Saturday
12.05:XNUMX pm: Women's relay
15.05:XNUMX pm: Men's relay

Sunday
13.45:XNUMX p.m.: Women's mass start
16.05:XNUMX: Men's mass start