German top biathlete ends his career surprisingly - he won three Olympic medals

Created: 03/04/2022 12:29 p.m

By: Antonio Jose Riether

He was still there at the Winter Games in Beijing, and now he has announced the end of his career.

Biathlete Erik Lesser still competes in three World Cups, then it's over.

Kontiolahti - On March 12, 2010, Erik Lesser celebrated his World Cup debut in Kontiolahti, Finland.

With the German mixed relay he takes a strong second place, in 2015 the Thuringian won his second world championship title at the same place.

Now, in Kontiolahti of all places, Lesser announced the end of his career.

There are only three more World Cups to go before the 33-year-old hangs up his rifle and skis.

Erik Lesser: German biathlete announces career end in podcast with ex-teammates

Surprisingly, the Suhler announced the end of his career.

Lesser's farewell tour is now starting in the said eastern Finnish municipality.

“I packed my travel bag for the very last time as an active biathlete.

That's it for me," said Lesser in the podcast "The Biathlon Double Room" with Arnd Peiffer, who also announced his retirement from competitive sports in March last year.

With Lesser, the DSV loses one of the important pillars in the Skijäger team, which hurts a year before the home World Championships in Oberstdorf.

"That would have been another goal.

But that would be another year of toil, a summer where I have to think, is that enough, isn't it?

My motivation is becoming increasingly sparse," admitted Lesser.

Erik Lesser: Biathlete announces the end of his active career - he won three medals at the Olympics

After his last three World Cups in Kontiolahti, in Otepää in Estonia and at Holmenkollen in Norway's capital Oslo, Lesser is taking a break.

Then the SV Eintracht Frankenhain biathlete will be able to look back on his many successes.

He won a total of three medals at the Olympics, in the individual and in the relay he secured silver in Sochi, and there was also a bronze medal in the relay in Pyeongchang.

His career highlights also include seven World Championship medals and six World Cup victories.

• Eric Lesser (biathlete)

• Born: May 17, 1988 in Suhl, Thuringia

• Olympic participations: 3 (2014 Sochi, 2018 Pyeongchang, 2022 Beijing)

• Olympic medals: 3 (two silvers, one bronze)

• World Cup victories: 6 (2 individual victories)

Lesser wants to take more time for his family in the future, so his girlfriend Nadine and their daughter Anouk can look forward to a lot of attention.

"I used to always want to be a father," explained the six-time World Cup winner.

It takes him "from time to time" not to be at home with his loved ones due to his many often long business trips.

Nevertheless, he would like to keep his favorite sport, says the sports soldier.

"I want to be a coach," he said.

(ajr)