biathlon
Denise Herrmann-Wick and the dream of gold at the home World Cup
“It’s nice to see that the path continues and that the form is there,” says Denise Herrmann-Wick. photo
© Hendrik Schmidt/dpa
Denise Herrmann-Wick is Germany’s biggest hope for a medal at the Biathlon World Cup. But she doesn’t put any pressure on herself in Oberhof. However, a big gold opportunity awaits.
Denise Herrmann-Wick has already saved a playlist with her favorite songs to the DJ in the WM Arena on the Rennsteig. And in the best-case scenario, at the home World Championships in Oberhof on Friday after the sprint, a song by Mickie Krause will blare out of the loudspeakers when the 34-year-old wins the long-awaited first medal for the German team.
“Everything fits. Now it’s time to stay the course and stay focused,” said the 34-year-old before the first individual race of the title fights in the Thuringian Forest. She is one of the favourites.
The Saxon quickly checked off the botched start with sixth place in the mixed relay. While veteran Benedikt Doll was completely crushed after his penalty loop, Herrmann-Wick was able to gain more self-confidence despite missing the team medal. Because exactly one year and one day after her individual Olympic victory in Beijing, she set the best time in her round and only missed once on the shooting range in the standing stage. And now comes the race in which she even secretly dreams of gold. “The sprint would be cool. I’ve been fourth and fifth,” she said.
Herrmann-Wick: “The form is there”
Herrmann-Wick is Germany’s biggest hope for a medal in Thuringia and has so far been responsible for the DSV team’s only wins of the season in the World Cup. She won a sprint in December in Hochfilzen and the pursuit at the World Championships dress rehearsal in Antholz at the end of January. In the best case scenario, the other German women can finish in the top ten or top 15, but a medal is unrealistic.
“It’s nice to see that the path continues like this and that the form is there,” said Herrmann-Wick, who as a strong runner accommodates the demanding stretches on the Grenzadler. “If the discs fall, it would be a very good basis, running is fine anyway.”
She has support from her family and husband Thomas Wick, who followed the start of the World Cup. “Now it’s time to stay healthy, think from race to race, recover well in between, but don’t ski down too far,” said the former cross-country skier. The competitions are more special than in the normal World Cup, “there you already have your rituals that you do. But the World Cup program is a slightly different category.” If she really always starts, she will cross-country ski a total of seven times in a good week and a half.
Olympic champion also wants to enjoy
The perfectionist Herrmann-Wick doesn’t put any pressure on herself before what might be her last World Cup. “I’m not tense. I’m trying not to be result-oriented and enjoy it. If the World Championship races are the best of the season, then the goal would be achieved,” she said. It’s true that it’s the first home World Cup for you and everyone else in the team, so the atmosphere is special. In the end, however, it is a race like any other world championship before.
She couldn’t achieve more than her Olympic victory anyway. She was also world champion – in 2019 in pursuit. This allows you to approach many things in a more relaxed manner, the motto is: Everything can, nothing has to. She doesn’t necessarily see herself as a frontwoman either. But whether she likes it or not – that’s exactly what she is.
“Denise is one of the favorites and she has the best chance of winning an individual medal. And the sprint is her main discipline,” said Olympic champion Arnd Peiffer. Women’s head coach Kristian Mehringer added: “Denise is someone who can take care of the younger athletes. If everyone goes into the World Championships with a certain ease and the necessary attacking mode, then a lot is possible.”
Will she still be there next year? “The feeling will come one day,” said Herrmann-Wick in an interview with the world association IBU. You can see that there is now a generation change and there are fewer and fewer female athletes in their age. “My life will go on. Maybe not so fast and with so much lactate.” She used to think that she had to have a plan for after her active career. “But now I’m thinking to myself: maybe I’ll get on with life first and enjoy it.” Maybe you’re going on vacation more than in previous years. “Or as a woman you also have family plans. We’ll see what happens. Maybe there will be opportunities that you didn’t expect.”