Now She Gets Her Chance!
The women’s biathlon individual event from Antholz is scheduled for Wednesday at 14:15 (live on ARD, Eurosport, and BILD Liveticker). The German team is aiming to challenge for medals once again. A surprising addition to the lineup has been announced.
The German Ski Association (DSV) announced Tuesday that Franziska Preuß, Vanessa Voigt, Janina Hettich-Walz, and Selina Grotian will comprise the quartet for the competition.
Biathlon Jewel Grotian Gets Her Chance
Biathlon rising star Selina Grotian will make her debut in the individual event. Grotian has had a mixed season so far, interrupted by a COVID-19 infection in December that set her Olympic dreams in jeopardy. She narrowly qualified for the Games, meeting the required second qualifying standard with a 13th-place finish in the Ruhpolding pursuit race. She currently sits 38th in the overall World Cup standings.
Surprisingly, Julia Tannheimer and Anna Weidel, both Olympic qualifiers, will be spectators for this event. Despite being the top two German women in the overall World Cup standings, they were left off the team. Tannheimer is currently ranked 27th, having secured her Olympic qualification early with an 8th-place finish in Östersund. Weidel is 28th and qualified for the Olympics at the second World Cup event of the season.
This race also holds special significance for Janina Hettich-Walz, who is returning to the World Cup circuit after a break to start a family. She’s showing strong form on the course, but is still working on her shooting. These will be her first Olympic Games.
Preuß, last season’s World Cup overall winner, and Voigt were already considered locks after winning bronze in Sunday’s mixed relay. Preuß also announced that she intends to end her career at the end of the season.
