Denise Herrmann-Wick shed tears of joy after winning the last sprint race of her career. “It’s very emotional right now,” said the world champion after her eleventh World Cup triumph on Saturday in Oslo. With a gala performance without shooting errors, the 34-year-old also secured the small crystal globe in the Sprint World Cup for the second time and also achieved the last goal of her successful career one day before her announced retirement.
“It’s really pure pleasure,” said the Saxon at the end of a perfect day, on which she managed the second-best time. Friends and family had cheered them on in great numbers at Holmenkollen in perfect weather. “I’m incredibly proud and happy that we can enjoy the day like this,” said Herrmann-Wick. Behind her, Sweden’s Hanna Öberg (0 penalties) finished in second place, 3.5 seconds behind, while Julia Simon of France (1) took third place in Norway’s capital.
The race on Friday could not take place due to dense fog and was postponed by one day. The pursuer originally planned for Saturday was removed from the program. Herrmann-Wick announced the end of her career on Tuesday, and the former cross-country skier will be there for the last time in the mass start on Sunday (3:10 p.m. / ARD and Eurosport).
“It’s a crazy feeling. You can only imagine it the way it is,” said Herrmann-Wick about the last moments of her career on ARD: “I don’t even want to imagine Sunday like that.” In any case, it gets emotional again. “That could well happen,” she replied when asked if a few tears might flow at the end.
It actually happened a day earlier, the two-time world champion was so overwhelmed after once again withstanding all the pressure. “I tried to do my best race that I can do. I succeeded,” said Herrmann-Wick: “You know it’s the last sprint. I’m glad that I’m keeping my nerves in check in the competition could.”
The second best German was the flawless Janina Hettich-Walz in eighth place, Hanna Kebinger (1) also made it into the top 20 in 17th place. Vanessa Voigt (0) in 41st place fell short of expectations.