After Denise Herrmann’s gold medal in the individual race, the German biathletes sprinted their worst Olympic result in history. Four days after her triumph in the classic, Herrmann was far behind after two penalties over 7.5 km in Zhangjiakou and had to settle for 22nd place. As the best German, only the flawless Olympic debutant Vanessa Voigt came 18th, just in the top 20. For the previously worst sprint result at the Olympic Winter Games, where biathletes have been fighting for medals since 1992, the athletes of the German Ski Association ( DSV) 2014 in Sochi. At that time, Evi Dingebacher-Stehle was eleventh as the best German.
Norway’s top favorite Marte Olsbu Röiseland also shot clean and claimed her second gold medal in Beijing on Friday after winning the mixed relay, and she also finished third in the individual. The eleven-time world champion won the sprint ahead of Sweden’s Elvira Öberg (0 penalties/+30.9 seconds) and Italy’s Dorothea Wierer (0/+37.2).
In the pursuit on Sunday (10 a.m.CET), Herrmann has a big mortgage, 1:45.1 minutes behind Röiseland. Voigt starts the race 13.7 seconds ahead of Herrmann. Franziska Preuss (2 penalties/+1.57.1 minutes) and Vanessa Hinz (3/+2.40.0) also fell well short of expectations in the sprint. Laura Dahlmeier won gold in sprint and pursuit four years ago in Pyeongchang.
The men start on Saturday (10 a.m. CET) in the shortest race over 10 km – but without veteran Erik Lesser, who had disappointed with 67th place in the individual. The German Ski Association (DSV) nominated Benedikt Doll and Roman Rees, who had impressed in the individual race, as well as Johannes Kühn and Philipp Nawrath. The pursuit will take place on Sunday (11:45 a.m. CET).