Title fights in Nove Mesto
Nagelsmann and Co. wish the biathlon team success for the World Cup
Biathlete Justus Strelow has his sights set on a medal at the World Championships. photo
© Hendrik Schmidt/dpa
Biathlon not only inspires the fans, but also many other German athletes. It’s not just the national soccer coach who is keeping his fingers crossed for the World Cup. There should be a medal at the start.
The German biathletes can compete in the World Championships rely on the support of many prominent sports colleagues.
Among others, national soccer coach Julian Nagelsmann, assistant coach Sandro Wagner, Bayern national player Joshua Kimmich and hockey Olympic champion Moritz Fürste sent greetings to the team and are keeping their fingers crossed for them at the World Cup in Nove Mesto, Czech Republic.
“They really motivated us and we didn’t think that so many people from football would follow biathlon so closely,” said Justus Strelow, who, together with Philipp Nawrath, Franziska Preuß and Vanessa Voigt, was at the start today (5.20 p.m./ARD and Eurosport) wants to get his first medal with the mixed relay.
Nagelsmann is into biathlon
“That’s great. It showed everyone what a big deal this is. The whole country is watching and getting excited. And not just when things are going well,” said sports director Felix Bitterling: “They’re all fans. They’re sitting in front of the TV again two days later, even if things aren’t going well.” In total there were 17 or 18 messages, he added: “That was a cool thing.”
Nagelsmann’s affinity for biathlon has been known for some time. In December 2022, the then FC Bayern coach sat in the stands with his partner at the World Cup in Hochfilzen, Austria, and watched the races privately. After he was discovered, he then had his photo taken with the German team in the finish area.
Before the trip to the World Cup in the Czech Republic, former football official Michael Reschke also gave a motivational speech for the team at the preparatory course in Ridnaun and also talked about his work in football. “It was a great evening, extremely entertaining. The athletes and the rest were thrilled,” said Bitterling.
They want to continue this next year, said Bitterling. Last year, former Brazilian national player and Bayern professional Giovane Elber spoke to the team and talked about his football life.