Germany's biathlon team has concluded its first World Cup season without a victory. Philipp Nawrath finished second in the final mass start in Oslo, just 3.7 seconds behind winner Johan-Olav Botn. Overall, there were only nine podium finishes in 69 races.
Germany's biathlon team ended the 2023/2024 World Cup season on a historically poor note: for the first time since men and women competed together in 1987/1988, there was no victory. In 69 races since November, the Germans achieved only nine podium finishes. Philipp Nawrath, Germany's top biathlete, took second place in the mass start in Oslo. He hit all 20 targets and trailed Norwegian winner Johan-Olav Botn by just 3.7 seconds. 'That was a consolation. Getting through the shooting range so perfectly was brilliant and gives me a good feeling,' the 33-year-old from Nesselwang told ZDF. Third place went to French overall World Cup winner Eric Perrot. Nawrath delivered Germany's best results with two second places, alongside seven third places, including one for the mixed relay at the Olympic Winter Games in Italy – their only medal there. Sports director Felix Bitterling admitted: 'We have to blame ourselves that we didn't achieve what we set out to do this year.' Following Franziska Preuß's retirement – who secured Germany's last win nearly a year ago – there is no successor. Preuß, present in Oslo as a spectator, said: 'It's totally okay to stand on the sidelines.' From May 1, Bernd Eisenbichler will take over as sports director at the German Ski Association. Coaches Kristian Mehringer and Sverre Olsbu Röiseland are stepping down from the women's team.
