On May 17, 2019, double Olympic champion Laura Dahlmeier announced the end of her career - at the age of just 25. A year later, she enjoys her new freedom - without pressure to perform. Even in the corona crisis.
Berlin (dpa) - Actually Laura Dahlmeier would now be preparing for the new season. But the 26-year-old has put her rifle in the corner and is now studying sport without any pressure. And the biathlon star aD is also relaxed due to the corona crisis.
The 26-year-old has to accept the restrictions again. But she handles it easily. And hopes that things will change after the crisis.
You announced the end of your career on May 17, 2019. How was it for you shortly before you retired?
Laura Dahlmeier: I was thinking back and forth at the time. Is it the right decision? Is it time to step down? It was a relief when I made up my mind and announced it.
The decision-making process must have put a lot of strain on you. When exactly did it fall?
Dahlmeier: I've had thoughts like this throughout the last season. It was always clear to me that I would not do biathlon forever. After Pyeongchang it was clear to me that I would never go to the Olympics again. These were perfect races for me, I can't do better. When I was able to win a medal at the World Cup in my last season, which was a bit bumpy, the thoughts had matured that it would be my last season.
Who did you consult with?
Dahlmeier: I haven't spoken to anyone about it. It was important to me that it was my decision and that nobody influenced me from outside. When the decision was made, I thought about the next three or four weeks, if it fits, you're fine with it. How are you doing in a year. When I answered it positively for myself, I communicated it.
Would your decision have been different if the Olympics 2022 had not been in Beijing but in a traditional winter sports resort?
Dahlmeier: I wouldn't just blame it on it, but it does influence a decision. Subconsciously it does matter. And I thought it would be a shame if the Olympic Games take place somewhere where there are hardly any people and there is no excitement. If Olympia had been in Cortina or somewhere with us in the Alpine region, then I would certainly have thought it over again. It would have made the decision much more difficult.
Olympia is the greatest thing for an athlete.
Dahlmeier: Olympia is the greatest if you look at it from the outside. I've always had this dream and I'm extremely grateful that it worked. But Olympia is very different than you would imagine. Somehow so fake.
Can you describe that in more detail?
Dahlmeier: In Pyeongchang, the biathlon races were on a golf course and that was how it felt from the first to the last moment. Nobody really knew it. From a sporting point of view, it was simply very different from the standard you are used to from the World Cup. The whole area was much more bloated, there are many more people on site who don't really have much to do with sport or biathlon. That's how you perceive it as an athlete.
Could your point of view change at some point?
Dahlmeier: I'm really looking forward to watching the Olympic Winter Games from the other side. Maybe I'll say then, wow such a great sports festival. Then that will surely increase in my reputation again. But as an athlete - that's a back and forth - and the sport is actually not really in the foreground.
Do you have any memories of your last World Cup race?
Dahlmeier: I still have memories of biathlon races, the last one not so much, it wasn't the best race. It's different with Schalke, it was the coolest graduation you could imagine. I often think back on that.
How would you describe the time from the end of your career until now? How has your life changed?
Dahlmeier: It was a bit turbulent. For the first two or three months I tried to distance myself from biathlon. Then I traveled a lot, taking the time to do things that you usually have little time for.
And then?
Dahlmeier: "... came the question: Ok, what are you doing now? Then I always heard: All doors are open to you, you can do what you want. And I found that super difficult. Because I always knew that I want to be a successful biathlete. But afterwards I left everything open. It was an exciting orientation phase. It was not entirely clear whether I wanted to study and whether it was sport. Now I'm super happy, life has a purpose again And now I no longer have this performance concept, this pressure - I enjoy this freedom extremely.
What do you want to do with your sports studies?
Dahlmeier: I have found that sport is exactly what I want to do. You will see what exactly, I am relatively relaxed there. The right thing will happen at the right time.
Will you be seen in biathlon again?
Dahlmeier: I also do the coaching license.
Then you will definitely be the first national coach?
Dahlmeier: No, no. I can rule out that I immediately start as a trainer in the biathlon circus. But as the saying goes: never say never.
Now Corona dominates life. Yours too.
Dahlmeier: I can hide the Corona topic very well. There is hardly any other topic for others, what you are allowed to do, what you are not allowed to do. But it doesn't affect my life and my everyday life too much. What is really nice that I live in Garmisch is like in paradise. I have always been able to go out into the forest or jog. It is completely different than in the city. If I had been in my little student booth in Munich all the time, the time would have been a lot harder.
How do you deal with the restrictions?
Dahlmeier: As competitive athletes, we have always been accustomed to these hygiene rules such as washing hands, disinfecting and avoiding crowds, which is standard with us. What was blatant is the curfew. It took a few days before I accepted it. I thought is this real or will I wake up tomorrow and think it was just a joke.
There is a lot of talk about solidarity now. What experiences have you had there?
Dahlmeier: I think it's nice to feel the cohesion among the population again. Also in the family, you are much closer to each other again.
Can the corona crisis also have a positive effect?
Dahlmeier: I would like to be more mindful. At the beginning of the crisis, many slowed down, everything was a bit calmer, less stress, no appointments. I would like us to take this into the time after that less is sometimes more. Not that it means right away, everyone is again busy with appointments and rushes from one to the next.
Have you discovered new things for yourself in quarantine?
Dahlmeier: Not necessarily new things, but I always took time for old things, like reading a book, taking time for myself. Enjoy this natural beauty. And to know that we have it so wonderful at home. Maybe you don't have to drive around the area for hours, we also have a paradise here.
Can you imagine that the upcoming biathlon season will be a normal one in Corona?
Dahlmeier: It will be exciting to see how the corona pandemic develops. In Italy you might have to ask, does it make sense to really host competitions in such a battered country? Or do you go to regions where the population density is not so high. Do a little more in Scandinavia. And ensures that the athletes have to travel less. But that is the task of the IBU and the respective countries and regions to make the right decisions.
PERSONAL: Laura Dahlmeier (26) is one of the most successful biathletes ever with two Olympic gold medals and seven World Cup titles. One year after her early career end, the Garmisch-Partenkirchner studied sports science in Munich and got the trainer license.