Keep your eyes open when choosing a sport: Biathlon star Philipp Nawrath has seriously injured himself while playing football and is in danger of being sidelined for weeks.
Herzogenaurach – When athletes are active on unfamiliar terrain, it usually goes wrong. The German biathlete Philipp Nawrath, naturally at home in winter sports, tried his hand at playing football. A fatal decision, as it turned out in retrospect. Nawrath suffered a serious injury while kicking and is now missing a large part of the preparation for the new season.
| Philipp Nawrath | |
|---|---|
| Born: | 13 February 1993 (age 30 years), Füssen |
| Sport: | Biathlon |
| Greatest successes: | 1x World Cup victory with the relay, European Championship bronze in the sprint 2023 |
German biathlon star misses preparation for winter sports season due to football injury
Philipp Nawrath was a guest with the German biathlon team at a seminar at the Adidas headquarters in Herzogenaurach at the start of the preparation. The 30-year-old from Füssen thanked on Instagram on Friday (19 May) for "a perfectly organised Terrex Camp at home base and a cool outfit afterwards", but also had to tell his fans the consequences of a mishap.
"At the first-class training facilities in Herzogenaurach, it was a huge motivation to start the season well with the team. With too much motivation during training, it sometimes happens that the foot gets one. Unfortunately, I injured my foot while playing football," Nawrath wrote. "Diagnosis: torn ligament and metatarsal fracture." Nawrath did not explain exactly how the injury had occurred. The European Championship bronze medallist in the sprint in Lenzerheide was lucky in his misfortune.
Biathlon star Philipp Nawrath has seriously injured himself while playing football. © Philipp Nawrath/Instagram/Hendrik Schmidt/dpa
Metatarsal fracture, torn ligaments: German biathlon star with severe injury after football match
An operation is not necessary, the injuries are treated conservatively, said the German Ski Association. Nawrath is not expected to put any weight on his foot for the next two weeks. After that, a special build-up training will take place while protecting the foot for about six weeks.
"Rest and alternative training is on the agenda for the next six weeks. After that, I hope to get back into regular training soon," Nawrath told his fans. The German ski hunters started preparing for the coming season at the beginning of May. The World Cup winter starts at the end of November in Östersund, Sweden. Nawrath's World Cup colleague Justus Strelow recently used the break for a marriage proposal on a holiday island.
German biathlon star Nawrath gets around surgery
So there is still enough time for Nawrath to recover from the injury, and he should keep his distance from the round leather for the time being. Compared to Sofia Goggia, Nawrath got off lightly, the ski goddess "never thought about quitting" despite a cruciate ligament rupture, fibula fracture and splintered hand. (ck)
