Biathlon: Early end of the season: Biathlon World Cup without Preuss

Former world champion Franziska Preuss has to end the biathlon season prematurely and thus also misses the home world championships in Oberhof.

Biathlon: Early end of the season: Biathlon World Cup without Preuss

Former world champion Franziska Preuss has to end the biathlon season prematurely and thus also misses the home world championships in Oberhof.

This was announced by the German Ski Association. The 28-year-old Bavarian had repeatedly had to take longer breaks from training and competitions in recent months due to health problems. Most recently, she managed to get back into competition at the World Cup in Antholz, but she said she was still too far from her normal form. However, Preuss ruled out the end of his career.

"In my current state of health, I'm simply not able to do the work that would be necessary to help our team at the World Cup in Oberhof," said Preuss, looking ahead to the season's highlight from August 8th to 19th. February in Thuringia. The former relay world champion will now "take a break to regain strength both physically and mentally," she said. The many setbacks "and the associated struggle are incredibly exhausting over such a long period of time".

The next step is to find out why she is so susceptible to infections and other health problems. "It probably takes a certain amount of time for that, and I'll take that," said Preuss. Even if it is "one of the hardest decisions" of her career, Preuss wants to regain her old strength: "If I want to continue my competitive sports career at the world's top level, and I want that one hundred percent, I have to take care of my body now listen and do everything to finally get properly and permanently healthy again." The German Ski Association had hoped that Preuss would still manage to take part in the World Cup. The seven-time World Championships medalist was one of six women to meet the norm for the title fights at Rennsteig, but was then thrown back by an infection at the end of the year. It is possible that Hanna Kebinger, who surprisingly led the German women's relay in Antholz on Sunday as the last runner in third place, will receive the place from Preuss. The 25-year-old Bavarian may only have reached half the internal norm but left a strong impression in Italy.

NEXT NEWS