Like Wierer once did: Anna Gandler wins hearts

She is considered one of the most promising biathletes in the world, and has long been a star off the track. Here she is following in Dorothea Wierer's footsteps. On the sidelines of her home World Cup in Hochfilzen, SportNews met with the 23-year-old from Hall in Tirol and talked about her special connection to South Tyrol.

13 December 2024

From Hochfilzen

From:
Alexander Foppa

All eyes are on her at the only Biathlon World Cup in Austria: Anna Gandler. Last year she achieved her first top-six results, and this winter she wants to jump onto the podium - ideally in Hochfilzen.

Here, just an hour's drive from her parents' house, she can count on very special support. "Grandma, grandpa, mom, dad and also my sister will be cheering me on. I'm really looking forward to it," beams Gandler. For her, "Hochfilzen and Le Grand-Bornand are a real home game double before Christmas." To explain: The daughter of former cross-country skier Markus Gandler is in a relationship with French biathlete Émilien Claude.

The two winter sports athletes not only share a passion for biathlon, but also their dedication to social media videos. "I really enjoy it. It's a positive distraction from competitive sport," explains Gandler. More than 77.000 fans follow her on Instagram; few other biathletes have such a strong online following. Here she follows in the footsteps of Dorothea Wierer. "I think it's cool how she does it on the side. She shows that not everything has to revolve around biathlon. I love life and want to enjoy it to the fullest, so why shouldn't others be able to take part in it?" explains Gandler.

"I love life and want to enjoy it to the fullest" Anna Gandler

The comparison to Wierer is not only evident in terms of social media reach. Like the Pustertal native, who won almost everything there was to win as a young adult, Gandler can also boast considerable success as the 2020 Junior World Champion. Austrian biathlon fans dream of further medal wins for the blonde from Tyrol. She is already considered a beacon of hope for the 2026 Olympics.

Anna Gandler in an interview with SportNews. © Pierre TEYSSOT

The precious metal with the five rings will be awarded next winter in Antholz, a special place for Gandler too. "I always enjoy traveling to South Tyrol, I love the dialect. I'm thinking of Dominik Paris's interviews - simply wonderful!" laughs the 23-year-old. She also has a small family connection to the neighboring region beyond the Brenner Pass, because "my great-grandmother used to have a house somewhere near Bolzano. There are beautiful little squares in South Tyrol - similar to ours in North Tyrol," she says with a wink.

At the end of January, Gandler will be heading south again for the traditional Antholz World Cup. Perhaps she will arrive with her first podium finish under her belt.