Germany's Biathlon Success Relies Heavily on Franziska Preuß as Challenges Persist

Despite a strong individual performance from Preuß, concerns grow over the lack of depth in German biathlon ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Franziska Preuß secured four out of Germany's five medals at the Biathlon World Championships, including a pursuit world title and consistent top-ten finishes in all individual events.
The German men's team managed only one medal, a bronze in the relay, and struggled in individual events, with just one top-ten finish by Philipp Horn.
Sportdirektor Felix Bitterling acknowledged significant performance gaps between Germany and top nations like Norway and France, highlighting the urgent need for improvement before the 2026 Olympics in Antholz.
Young athletes such as Selina Grotian (20) and Julia Tannheimer (19) show promise, but their impact at the World Championships was limited, raising questions about the strength of Germany's biathlon pipeline.
Concerns over weak shooting performances and overall competitiveness have prompted calls for analysis and immediate action to address these issues with less than a year until the Winter Games.