In the Olympic biathlon relay in Antholz, German world champion Franziska Preuß made four shooting errors despite leading and had to complete a penalty loop. This caused the German team to miss a medal, finishing fourth behind France. For the 31-year-old, only the mass start remains as her last chance before retirement.
Franziska Preuß, the 31-year-old German biathlon world champion, faced another setback in the relay race at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Antholz. The German team had spared her the pressure of the anchor position, but the previous season's overall World Cup winner shot four misses while leading and had to complete a penalty loop. This dropped Germany to fourth place, with France taking the win.
Sports director Felix Bitterling commented: "The sport writes stories of triumphs, but that simply hurts. Something is hanging between her ears. But that doesn't make Franzi any less of a champion." Preuß, who shed tears after the race, had said beforehand: "I don't understand myself what's going on."
This incident fits into Preuß's Olympic history. At her debut in 2014 in Sochi, she had five shooting errors in the 15-km individual and lost time in the relay due to snow in her rifle sight. In 2018 in Pyeongchang, a penalty loop as starter. Despite injuries and illnesses, she won bronze in the relay in 2022 in Beijing. Here, she secured bronze in the mixed relay but failed in the individual and pursuit due to shooting errors.
The race started strong: Julia Tannheimer took the lead early, Preuß shot cleanly in her first round. Then the drama unfolded. She handed over in 11th to Janina Hettich-Walz, and anchor Vanessa Voigt could not close the gap. Bitterling hopes: "Her head is hanging low right now, but Franzi will shake it off and attack again." The mass start on Saturday is Preuß's last Olympic race before her announced retirement.
