The Olympic Games are on. So the question arises: When is it absolutely necessary to switch it on? t-online has selected selected sports for you in which there are almost certainly German successes.
As Laura Dahlmeier skates towards the finish line in the freezing cold of Pyeongchang, all the tension breaks out of her. The biathlete grabs a German flag and looks up at the sky with relief. For a moment time seems to stand still – then she crosses the line and secures her second gold medal in the pursuit.
There were many scenes like this at the 2018 Olympic Games. The German team won a total of 31 medals. That meant second place in the medal table – and the best result in over a decade and a half.
The German team will have to be measured against these values in Beijing. But does the squad have what it takes to create this value? According to the data specialists at Gracenote, the answer is yes – almost. Because the US company predicts “Team Germany”, as it is called in the official jargon, 30 medals and again second place in the medal table.
It remains to be seen whether this number will be exactly the same. However, t-online tells you where the chances of gold are greatest:
Francesco Friedrich: So far, the Saxon has two Olympic and 13 World Championship titles in his résumé. He wants to win more precious metals at the games in Beijing. (Source: Photo booth/Wassmuth/imago images)
Bob – golden prospects
The specialists in the ice channel are absolute medal guarantors, as they are at every Winter Games. The star of the scene is the multiple Olympic champion Francesco Friedrich, who wants to repeat his double success from 2018 in twos and fours. The shape is right: the Saxon has been unbeaten for five major events and has won 14 of 16 races. Beside him has John Lochner best prospects for precious metal.
And a German rain of medals also seems inevitable for the women. Laura Nolte and Kim Kalicki have shown strong performances in the twos in the World Cup and are also Olympic champions Mariama Jamaica gets better and better. After the European title, she could also draw attention to herself in the new monobob discipline.
► t-online forecast: six medals (three of them gold)
“I watch almost everything”: Olympic champion Uschi Disl explains which disciplines she finds the most exciting. (Source: t-online)
Biathlon – the time after Dahlmeier
In Pyeongchang, the DSV team dominated the competitions with seven medals. “It’s going to be very, very difficult to repeat that. 2018 was Dahlmeier still there, which alone has won three out of seven medals”, so Biathlon legend Uschi Disl on t-online. Nevertheless, she trusts the team at the biathlon facility in Zhangjiakou with at least a similarly strong performance.
The season record is not outstanding. In 30 individual races, the Germans only made it onto the podium four times. Only Johannes Kuehn in Hochfilzen and Benedict Doll wins in Antholz. The relays that traditionally perform at the Olympics give hope. Also are Denise Herrmann and the one thrown back by a corona infection in January Franziska Preuss capable of surprises.
► t-online forecast: two medals (one gold)
Skeleton – the big breakthrough
The German skeletonis could be the big winners of these games. Both for men and women, they arrive with World Cup successes – from Tina Herman and Christopher Groteer. Both are highly favourites.
want to Jacqueline Loelling after second place in Pyeongchang now gold. And also Hannah Neisse and Axel Jungk, who were thrown back by positive corona tests during preparation, can do a lot on the newly built Olympic track in Yanqing.
► t-online forecast: three medals (twice gold)
Natalie Geisenberger: The 33-year-old is aiming for Olympic gold number five in China. But the competition in your own team is fierce. (Source: imago images)
Tobogganing – favorites en masse
After the biathletes, the lugers were a bank four years ago – with six medals. Outstanding: Natalie Geisenberger with gold in singles and mixed. Her third individual victory in a row is made more difficult by the competition from her own country. Because world champion Julia Taubitz and rising star Anna Berreiter are in top form.
John Ludwig showed his strongest World Cup season so far and is now aiming for gold after bronze in Pyeongchang. Triple Olympic champion Felix hole will want to prevent that. In the two-seaters, the hitherto strong ones will be TOni Eggert/Sascha Benecken and the 2018 winner Tobias Wendl and Tobias Arlt probably go for gold.
► t-online forecast: five medals (twice gold)
Nordic combined – lots of quality
Who doesn’t remember the spectacular competition on the large hill in Pyeongchang when John Rydzek, Fabian Riessle and Eric Frenzel won gold, silver and bronze with excellent teamwork? Riessle isn’t there this time, but the other two still have chances in the battle for precious metal. However, it is under special observation Vincent Geiger, who is the most consistent in the World Cup so far. Due to this concentration of top talent alone, the German team is also one of the favorites in the team competition. Even if the Corona cases by Terence Weber and Eric Frenzel cause some ambiguity about the requirements.
► t-online forecast: two medals
The man in the yellow jersey: Karl Geiger travels to China as World Cup leader and is hoping for his first gold medal there. (Source: Socher/Eibner press photo/imago images)
Ski jumping – Geiger’s big dream
After it at the Four Hills Tournament again nothing happened with the victory, Karl Geiger now wants Olympic gold in Beijing. Just in time for the games, he got back the yellow jersey of the World Cup leader and gained a lot of self-confidence. Also Markus Eisenbichler has chances for a medal on the brand new hill in Zhangjiakou.
Expectations are high for women Catherine Althaus. She finished second in 2018. And also in mixed team the DSV team is one of the top favourites.
► t-online forecast: four medals (twice gold)
Ice hockey – the next “winter fairy tale”?
The team is not one of the gold favorites, but the selection of national coach Toni Söderholm is one of the most exciting German Olympic events. After the “Winter’s Tale” four years ago, which ended with a sensational silver medal, the demands on the DEB team have grown. That’s not entirely unfounded. Because this time the stars from the NHL are missing, which even gives the Germans an advantage compared to the competition from Canada or the USA. In addition, the team has established itself among the best in the world.
► t-online forecast: There is no prognosis here, but it should be worth following the games.
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