German biathlete ends career: Olympic champion Denise Herrmann reacts promptly

Created: 03/21/2022, 05:44

By: Andreas Knobloch

Maren Hammerschmidt and Denise Herrmann with a hearty snack.

© Screenshot Herrmann Instagram

It is a difficult step, but at some point sport will be over.

A German biathlete is now announcing the end of her career.

Munich - It was an exciting winter sports year, but for one it was a rather messed up month.

Constant injuries and illnesses made it torturous. In a long statement, the German biathlete Maren Hammerschmidt declared the end of her career after "25 years of biathlon", as the 32-year-old writes.

“I owe so much to this wonderful sport.

I had the opportunity to get to know a lot of great people and places and not alone, a fantastic team was always there and experienced many ups and downs with me.

The last few years weren't easy, I had to struggle physically with a lot of construction sites that cost me a lot of energy.

From now on, my body can look forward to recovery,” Hammerschmidt writes on Instagram and provides the explanation.

Biahtlon: Hammerschmidt missed the Olympics – Herrmann responded with touching words

The German had to watch the Olympic Games in Beijing on TV.

A rash on the body caused a low form, health came first.

She was at least involved as an expert and was proud to observe the successes of her colleagues.

A good friend and former roommate even won gold: Denise Herrmann.

And that also expresses itself for a long time at the end of the career – with emotional words.

“You have always enriched the group with your open and funny manner.

You gave everything every day and pulled everyone along with your motivation.

You could always surpass yourself, especially for the team.

In the last few years I have seen you as an athlete as professional and committed as you could wish for as a training partner," writes Herrmann on Instagram.

The contact will not break off.

Biathlon end: Hammerschmidt grateful for "successes and failures"

Hammerschmidt takes a lot with her, as she explains: "I am very grateful that I was able to take part in the World Cup and celebrate some successes.

But failures have also made me the person I am today.

Today I am satisfied and happy with my decision to say goodbye to competitive sport and I am really looking forward to the new phase of life that now lies ahead of me.” This means that she can also spend more time with her family, such as her twin sister, and her friends spend.

Hammerschmidt made her World Cup debut in March 2012, winning World Championship gold in 2017 and bronze in 2016.

In the World Cup, she twice finished second on the podium in individual races.

Hammerschmidt missed the 2018/19 season entirely after suffering an ankle injury at the 2018 Winter Olympics.

After that, she never got back into shape, this season she didn't make the World Cup squad and didn't have any top placings in the second tier IBU Cup either.

And the Olympics took place without them.