End of career! Dominik Windisch has had enough of biathlon

Windisch announced at a specially convened online press conference that he would end his active sporting career after the end of this season. At the World Cup final in Oslo this week, the 32-year-old will take part in the concert of the big boys one last time. With Windisch's resignation, Italian biathlon is not only losing a popular figure, but also its most successful athlete of the last two decades.

Windisch has been an integral part of the national team since the 2011/12 season. In his early days, his older brother Markus was also represented in the World Cup. Dominik Windisch celebrated his greatest success at the World Championships in Östersund in 2019 when he surprisingly won gold in the mass start. At the title fights in Sweden, Windisch also won the bronze medal in the mixed relay. Windisch was also able to celebrate with the mixed relay team at the home World Championships in Antholz a year later - at that time he, Lisa Vittozzi, Dorothea Wierer and Lukas Hofer won silver.

In 2019, Windisch was crowned world champion in Östersund. © AFP / JONATHAN NACKSTRAND

The Pusterer also took part in the Olympic Games three times. In Sochi in 2014 there was bronze in the mixed relay. 4 years later in Pyeongchang, Windisch won bronze twice - in the sprint and in the mixed relay. These were the only two medals for South Tyrol in South Korea. The Pusterer has always been at his best at major events. In total, Windisch was on the podium four times in an individual race in the World Cup - including his mass start victory in 2016 in Canmore, Canada. “I’ve thought this through carefully.” Dominik Windisch on his resignation Now Windisch, who was a reliable runner in the Italian relays for years, is retiring from competitive sports. “I've thought it through carefully. I've been carrying this idea around all year. Preparation for the season actually went well. The winter was associated with many difficulties - also because of the Corona issue. From January onwards the season got better from a sporting perspective. The highlight of this winter was certainly fifth place in the Olympic mass start. Afterwards I thought that this could be it. Even though I wasn't sure whether I should stick with it for another year. After many discussions with the family and the coaches, I finally decided to retire after this season - also because I no longer had any new goals. I always gave it my all. Now I want to finish well in Oslo and plan my future from April onwards,” explained Windisch after his resignation.

At the World Cup finals on Holmenkollen, Windisch will definitely take part in the sprint on Friday. He could also qualify for the pursuit on Saturday and the final mass start on Sunday. One thing is certain: after Manfred Mölgg Another successful winter sports athlete from South Tyrol has drawn a line in the sand.

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End of career! Dominik Windisch has had enough of biathlon

A big bang for Italy's biathlon sport: Dominik Windisch announced the end of his career on Monday evening. He retires with 3 Olympic and 3 World Championship medals.

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