After the last show of strength of a long season, Janina Hettich-Walz drove jubilantly across the finish line not far from the Rocky Mountains. The performance of the 27-year-old, who celebrated her first World Cup podium of her career by finishing second in the mass start, was just as impressive as the mountain backdrop.
Only France’s Lou Jeanmonnot prevented Hettich-Walz’s first career win on Sunday in Canmore, Canada, and ensured that the German women’s team ended the season without an individual success, as was the case three years ago. Nevertheless, it was a respectable success and a conciliatory end to the season that hardly anyone had expected.
“I’m overjoyed that I managed to get to the podium in the last race. I’ve never had a race like today,” said Hettich-Walz on ZDF. Hettich-Walz, who had also surprised with silver in the individual at the World Championships, came to the last shooting with the Frenchwoman, who had also made no mistakes until then, after which both had to go into the penalty loop once. Jeanmonnot entered the final lap 2.5 seconds ahead of the German and was able to maintain his lead. “One mistake can happen, but I couldn’t make any more mistakes on the final lap,” analyzed Hettich-Walz.
While Johannes Thingnes Bö was crowned overall World Cup winner for the fifth time, the Italian Lisa Vittozzi celebrated her debut with the large ball on the winner’s podium. It is impossible to predict when someone from the German team will make it again after Michael Greis 17 years ago and Laura Dahlmeier in 2017. This would require consistent, first-class performances, which was not the case this season. For the men, who will have to do without their veteran Benedikt Doll, who is retiring from the new season, Johannes Kühn (7th in the sprint) and Philipp Nawrath (11th in the pursuit) achieved the best results before the last hunting race.
Nine podium places in the World Cup
After the best start to the season for both teams in December in Östersund and with Franziska Preuß, Roman Rees and Nawrath, three Germans in the yellow jersey for at least a short time, the World Cup in Nove Mesto in particular turned out to be a disappointment. Silver for Hettich-Walz and World Championship bronze for Benedikt Doll and the women’s relay team were not the hoped-for results, also because the material was not suitable in the warm and humid conditions.
In the World Cup, the women took a total of nine podium places, but as in 2021, not a single victory. Before the final mass start in Canmore, the men achieved a total of 14 podium places, including four victories – two for Doll and one each for Rees and Nawrath.
Above all, the lack of consistency became noticeable over the course of the season. The main goal will be to consistently deliver top performance. Just like solving the material problems – because the conditions, which are often too warm this season, will be the new normal, as sports director Felix Bitterling put it.
For the women, promising athletes Selina Grotian (19), Johanna Puff (21), Julia Kink (20) and Julia Tannheimer (18) are knocking on the A squad. It remains to be seen whether veteran Franziska Preuß (30) can get her health problems under control and complete a full season. Things aren’t looking quite so good for men. Doll retires as the last individual world champion in the team. His gap will be difficult to close. Above all, the dominance of the Norwegians was overwhelming this winter.
