Magdalena Rieger shines in IBU Junior Cup premiere

Created: 2022-12-09 2:34 p.m

By: Sven Sartison

Biathlete Rieger Magdalena_5646 Copy.jpg © Peter Kornatz

Magdalena Rieger slips into the DSV junior team for the season opener in the IBU Junior Cup.

In the end, the woman from Mittenwald finishes the sprint as the second-best German biathlete.

Martell – Suddenly everything happened very quickly for Magdalena Rieger.

The biathlete from SC Mittenwald just missed out on making the DSV junior team after the qualifying competitions, and was only considered a reserve woman.

But yesterday, Thursday, she made her debut in the IBU Junior Cup unexpectedly and much faster than expected.

Only on Monday evening did the athlete of the Zoll Ski Team receive the message from the responsible persons of the German Ski Association that she was moving up to the German team for the sprint at the season opener in Martell-Val Martello, Italy, due to illness.

But despite the short preparation time for their most important international competition so far, there was no sign of nervousness or teething problems.

Starting with the high starting number 110, she remained flawless in both the prone and standing positions and, combined with a good running performance, finished sixth as the second best German, just under a minute and a half behind the winner Sara Scattolo from Italy.

"Magdalena's debut could not have gone much better," said Bernhard Kröll, head of the Kaltenbrunn base, enthusiastic about the performance of his protégé: "This great result can give her courage and confidence for the other competitions this season.

She has proven that – if she shows her capabilities – she is able to keep up well internationally.”