Eleonora Fauner was one of Italy's biathlon talents – now she is ending her career at the age of 25. © CEPix / Imago / Screenshot Instagram / Eleonora Fauner
Surprising end to biathlete Eleonora Fauner's career: The 25-year-old is calling it quits – and will instead be working with her family in the future.
Cima Sappada – She comes from a successful winter sports family, was considered an Olympic hope in her own country – but now Eleonora Fauner has surprisingly ended her career. The Italian biathlete has found another vocation.
Eleonora Fauner | |
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Born: | September 24, 1997 (25 years old), Sappada, Italy |
Greatest biathlon success: | Victory in the IBU Cup sprint in Brezno-Osrblie (2023) |
Eleonora Fauner announces surprising end to biathlon career
In the future, the 25-year-old will no longer be on the cross-country ski trail, but in the restaurant. "The reason for my retirement is simple: we opened a restaurant with my family and after being able to rest all of April at the end of the long season, I felt like changing and immersing myself in this new activity," she explained in an interview with Biathlon Azzurro.
Just a few weeks ago, Fauner made her surprising decision to turn her back on biathlon. Most recently, she was active in the IBU Cup, even winning a race in Brenzno-Osrblie in January. A short time later, she was therefore allowed to compete in the World Cup in Ruhpolding.
Biathlete Fauner "was never completely satisfied": Now she is ending her career and working in the family business
However, the granddaughter of Olympic cross-country skiing champion Silvio Fauner had never set foot on the big stage. And she knew that herself: "In the years I took part in the IBU Cup, I was never completely satisfied. I'm aware that I've always done my best in every way I win, but now I want to embark on a new path full of challenges."
Fauner was considered a promising candidate for the Italian biathlon squad at the 2026 Olympic Games in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo. However, she will then follow the highlight in her own country as a spectator. At Biathlon Azzurro, Fauner also emphasized that she wants to end the chapter on sport. A possible career as a coach would never have been an option for her.
Eleonora Fauner: "The world of gastronomy has always fascinated me"
Instead, it will be gastronomy. "Of course, my second passion besides sports has always been cooking, the world of gastronomy has always fascinated me," says Fauner.
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The family will soon open a restaurant in their home town of Cima Sappada – not far from the Austrian border, 90 kilometres northwest of Udine. "And I was immediately excited to join in and lead it."
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The end of Fauner's career is by no means the only one at the moment. In Norway there are a number of biathlon withdrawals, in Austria, on the other hand, they are already working on the next generation of winter sports athletes. (akl)