Title fights in Oberhof
Biathlete Voigt before the start of the home World Cup: there is excitement
Vanessa Voigt from Germany trains at the shooting range. photo
© Hendrik Schmidt/dpa
A year ago at the Olympics, Vanessa Voigt’s debut went completely wrong. At the start of the World Championships in Oberhof, she definitely wants to do better.
Vanessa Voigt still has a score to settle. Because at the Winter Games in Beijing last year, the biathlete experienced a debacle at her Olympic premiere.
“I still have something open after the Olympics with the mixed relay, it’s already a challenge,” said the 25-year-old before the start of the world championships (2:45 p.m. / ZDF and Eurosport). In Oberhof, where she lives, Voigt will start the race again, followed by Denise Herrmann-Wick, Roman Rees and Benedikt Doll.
“The excitement is there,” said Voigt, who wants to do better than a year ago in front of the home crowd in the Arena am Rennsteig. In Beijing, the normally confident shooter did not get along at all and had to run a penalty loop after both the prone and standing stages. Only in 15th place did she hand over to Herrmann-Wick – the fight for a medal was over before it really started. In the end, fifth place jumped out.
Advice from Denise Herrmann-Wick
Nevertheless, Voigt is happy that she witnessed the games in the Far East. “Because I learned a lot there, I’ll take that with me,” she said. In addition, Herrmann-Wick always gives her advice, “which of course I accept. I do believe that I can be an important part of the relay. Of course, that makes me proud to have a relay position,” said the Olympic fourth-placed individual. Over the 15 kilometers she missed out on the bronze medal by just 1.3 seconds.
Before the home title fights, she already feels a “different” pressure. I think you just have to handle him well, then it’ll be fine. I can go into the World Championships with a good feeling,” said Voigt, who was in Livigno for a week after the last World Cup in Antholz and was preparing for the World Championships there. Her goals? “I would be happy with the World Championships, when I can pull off my best performance and at the end I see it on paper, I gave it my all in running and in shooting I did my best, which I pull off consistently.”