German Female Biathletes Face Setbacks in 2026 Winter Olympics Sprint Event

At the 2026 Winter Olympics, the German female biathlon team encountered notable challenges during the sprint event in Antholz. Janina Hettich-Walz, a key athlete, was forced to withdraw shortly before the race due to stomach pain, a decision made in consultation with team doctors and coaches prioritizing her health and future participation in relay and mass start events. Selina Grotian, 21, replaced her despite a prior disappointing individual race marked by four shooting errors. DSV Sports Director Felix Bitterling emphasized Grotian's recent positive form and past successes in Antholz as reasons for her substitution.

Franziska Preuß, aged 31, who had earlier won bronze in the mixed team event, aspired to medal individually but finished seventh in the sprint, one minute behind the gold medalist, after a shooting error in the standing position. Norwegian biathlete Maren Kirkeeide secured gold with flawless shooting, narrowly edging out France’s Océane Michelon. Lou Jeanmonnot of France won bronze despite a shooting error. Vanessa Voigt placed fourth in the sprint following a solid shooting performance and is positioned well for the upcoming pursuit race, whereas Julia Tannheimer and Selina Grotian struggled, finishing nineteenth and outside the top 50 respectively.

The women's sprint competition was held with live broadcasting on ARD and Eurosport, with the pursuit event scheduled for Sunday. Despite their setbacks, German athletes like Preuß and Voigt remain in contention for further success in the games. The withdrawal of Hettich-Walz and inconsistent performances underscore significant hurdles for the German team in their Olympic biathlon ambitions.