Sprint world champion Denise Herrmann-Wick has a lot of confidence in her successors in the new biathlon winter.
“I absolutely count on the girls as a team, but also in their individual performances. Hanna Kebinger, Sophia Schneider and Vanessa Voigt recently delivered a bomb season. If everything comes together, a lot is possible,” said Germany’s retired model ski hunter German press agency before the start of the season this Saturday (12.30 p.m./ARD and Eurosport) with the mixed competitions in Östersund, Sweden.
“The competition is strong”
The experiences at the home World Cup in Oberhof could also help. “The competition is strong. But there is a great chance of opening the door really wide,” said Herrmann-Wick, who is also relying on the experienced returnee Franziska Preuß. The 29-year-old returned in the summer after a long forced break and immediately won all three titles at the German rollerski championships.
Top talent Selina Grotian (19), who won four gold medals at the Junior World Championships in the spring, should first be allowed to gain experience in peace. “It’s more about building them up for the next few years and gaining experience. It would be fundamentally wrong to put pressure on them,” said the 34-year-old. If anyone needs help, she is still available to everyone.
After the season, Herrmann-Wick ended her successful career. The individual Olympic champion in Beijing secured all the individual World Cup podiums in the previous season with three victories and two third places, as well as the fantastic sprint triumph at the home World Championships in Oberhof as well as World Championship silver in the pursuit and silver in the relay.
With these performances, Herrmann-Wick absorbed a lot in the German women’s team – like a protective shield for her young teammates. “But it can be helpful that we don’t just have one leader and the others follow behind,” said women’s head coach Kristian Mehringer.
