Arnd Peiffer has announced the end of his career.
The biathlon Olympic champion will no longer be part of the last World Cup.
Munich - Biathlon * Olympic champion Arnd Peiffer * ends his career.
The 33-year-old from Clausthal-Zellerfeld announced this on Tuesday ten and a half months before the start of the Olympic Winter Games in Beijing.
Most recently, Peiffer was runner-up in the individual world championships in Pokljuka.
Biathlon: Peiffer announces resignation - and makes fans sad
Arnd Peiffer breaks up, even the Olympics in Beijing are no longer an incentive for him.
The 33-year-old announced his retirement from biathlon on Tuesday, a year before the Winter Games in China, unpretentiously in eight short sentences.
“As you can be sure, this is not an easy decision after such a long time.
For me, however, it has long since emerged that the ideal time to quit has come after this season, ”wrote the native of Harz on Facebook.
"It's wonderful to stop feeling like you're still competitive."
There were many reactions on Facebook from fans and former companions who were completely surprised by Peiffer's resignation.
“Oh no, what a shame!
We will miss you very much!
Now I just have to look for a new favorite biathlete, "said one user.
"I am so sad because you were not only one of the best biathletes for me in terms of sport, but also personally!", So another user.
"All the best for your future Arnd and congratulations on your impressive career," wrote former cross-country skier Tobias Angerer.
The Italian biathlete Dorothea Wierer also wished, "All the best for the future, Arnd!"
Biathlon: Peiffer resigns and succeeds Schempp
After four-time world champion Simon Schempp, the Olympic sprint champion from Pyeongchang is the second long-standing top performer to end his career this season and leave a big gap in the team of national coach Mark Kirchner.
Shortly and painlessly, as he had always announced beforehand, the native of Harz, known for his factual and self-critical analyzes, resigned two days before his 34th birthday.
“The spectrum ranged from sweet successes to bitter defeats and everything in between.
The sport and the experiences have shaped me, and I don't want to miss the experiences that I was allowed to gain, ”wrote Peiffer.
At the season finale in Östersund, Sweden, which starts on Friday, he is no longer there for family reasons.
An exuberant farewell party among his colleagues and a farewell in front of full spectators would not have happened anyway, given the Corona circumstances.
(ck / dpa) * merkur.de is an offer from Ippen.Media