2023-11-22 21:54:00
After her early end to the season last winter, Franziska Preuß (29) first sought to distance herself from the biathlon world – and flew to Thailand for two weeks.
In the Eurosport interview, the 2015 relay world champion talks about missing the home World Cup in Oberhof, borderline health experiences and the feeling of suddenly having to start preparations again in the prospective squad after ten years in the World Cup.
“It’s not easy when you’ve been out for almost a whole season. And it’s not a given that things will go right back from the start,” said Preuß in the run-up to the start of the World Cup in Östersund, Sweden, on Saturday (live on Eurosport 1 and at discovery+) the expectations.
Ms. Preuß, you have been a team veteran with the German biathletes since this winter. How do you like this role?
Franziska Preuß: To be honest, I don’t give a damn. At 29, I don’t feel like an oldie now. Apart from Selina Gotian, the others in the team are only three or four years younger than me.
The oldest member of the team was Denise Herrmann-Wick, who ended her career in March at 34. Have you actually seen any pictures of their victory in the sprint at the World Championships in Oberhof in February?
Preuß: I was completely out of the biathlon world from the end of January last season. I didn’t watch a single biathlon race after that. I just needed some distance, a cut. So it would be a lie if I said I watched it. I had deactivated my Instagram account until May, when training started again. And it was really nice without social media.
After you decided not to take part in the World Cup for health reasons, you booked a flight to Thailand shortly afterwards. So you were physically very far away during the title fights in Oberhof. Did your partner Simon Schempp accompany you?
Preuß: No, I flew alone. Things weren’t going well for him in terms of work, exams and studies. But I just wanted to get away, and it was a cool experience to process it on my own. To really get along with yourself for two weeks in a situation like that. I am also someone who can easily be alone.
Franziska Preuss
Fotocredit: Getty Images
How did it really feel for you to say: ‘I’m off then’ during such a home World Cup, which felt like a career highlight?
Preuß: Canceling the World Cup in Oberhof wasn’t really a bad thing for me. Sure, it was a World Cup in Germany. But Oberhof is not my home. The whole thing was a process in which I noticed since the summer that something was wrong in my body and that it was simply rebelling. So it was almost harder to admit to myself in January that physically it just wasn’t working anymore. Canceling the World Cup was of secondary importance. The priority was to do what was right for me and my body and not to continue to ruin anything. And at some point the body goes completely on strike.
Of course, this doesn’t leave you unscathed if you’re constantly stuck at home sick.
How important was the cancellation of the Oberhof World Cup with regard to your future career?
Preuß: That was a long-term decision where I ultimately thought to myself: If I make the right decision now, I might have another chance to get back into the biathlon business. The decision to cancel the season was also the decision to attack again.
Did you previously consider ending your career at 28?
Preuss: Yes. Of course, this doesn’t leave you unscathed if you’re constantly stuck at home sick. You start to question whether what you’re doing is still healthy. In January, after I canceled the season, I realized the hole I had fallen into physically. Because I could just let it happen. Before that, I constantly worked against it mentally and suppressed the feeling of exhaustion. So much of me fell away. I didn’t do any exercise for almost two months because I didn’t have any excess energy at all. Then I realized that it was a good idea to make a cut now.
Franziska Preuß celebrates her championship title in 2023
Photo credit: Image
And when the cut came – how did you feel?
Preuß: At least it always felt right. And in sports, I think that means everything. If you don’t argue with yourself. That was not the case. And that means: The decision was one hundred percent correct.
What was it like for you not to be on the World Cup team for the first time in many, many years, but to start again in the perspective squad?
Preuß: Of course that wasn’t an easy situation for me. When I was informed of this in May, I already accepted it. But when it came down to the internal qualifications, I noticed how tense I was. It was always clear to me: Either I could make it to the top again. But if it no longer works, I have to think about the whole thing again. I was relieved that, after being a bit under the weather for two weeks in October and not being able to train, I now have the chance at the start of the World Cup in Östersund. I think I’ve earned a little bit of trust after ten years in the World Cup.
And it’s not a given that things will slip again right from the start.
DSV sports director Felix Bitterling says he has absolutely no doubt that there is still a lot of world class in Franziska Preuß. How much world class is there left in you?
Preuß: (smiles discreetly) Of course I also hope that I can get back to where I was before in terms of performance. That was definitely my motivation throughout the year. At the German championships in September (with three titles for Preuß, editor’s note) I was able to show what I was still capable of.
What goals are you setting for this season?
Preuß: It’s not easy when you’ve been out for almost a whole season. I already experienced that in 2017. And it’s not a given that things will slip again right from the start. Get into the routine, listen to your body, regenerate well after every race – and then I’ll just see what it’s enough for. I always only set my goals when I know what is realistic.
Because the season ended early, you were able to celebrate your 29th birthday at home with friends for the first time in over ten years in March. Would you dare to predict where you will celebrate your 30th birthday?
Preuß: (laughs) If everything goes according to plan, I’ll have to celebrate at the airport. Sometimes you can’t choose. But it was nice to celebrate with friends this year.
After the recent health turbulence in your career, are you currently just thinking from year to year, or are you already thinking ahead to the 2026 Winter Olympics?
Preuß: From year to year.
And if everything goes really badly, it can also happen that you say: ‘I’ll leave it’?
Preuss: Yes, that could be true.
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