As of: March 13, 2024, 3:26 p.m
By: Korbinian Kothny
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Julia Kink is the rising star in the German biathlon sky.
The youth world champion took an unusual path to achieve her dream of becoming a professional.
Rosenheim – “Shortly before the start I felt so sick,” Julia Kink had to admit with a laugh at the ARD microphone on Saturday (March 9th).
No wonder, considering what the 20-year-old had experienced in the previous 24 hours.
Kink secures silver for women's relay in World Cup debut
First there was the Biathlon World Cup debut for Kink in the sprint on Friday evening, where the Aschauer qualified for the pursuit in 42nd place.
And then there was this season that Kink wasn't actually intended for.
However, the planned final runner, Sophia Schneider, complained of a sore throat in the morning hours, so the Hollywood idea could take shape.
Kink ultimately took over fourth position from Schneider, was sent onto the track by Vanessa Voigt with overall World Cup leader Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold and secured second place with just one spare - the best German women's relay result this season.
Julia Kink is the new hope in the German biathlon sky.
© IMAGO / Ernst Wukits / Instagram @julia__kink
Dirndl or skis?
Kink decides to go cross-country skiing
“That was so awesome,” Kink finally had to say after the race.
The biathlete is usually not so easily upset.
She once told the Rosenheim local magazine
himmeblau.com
that her resting heart rate was 36 and that she had left one or two medical assistants in disbelief.
Kink needs the adrenaline.
“I can only really relax when I’m sick,” she says.
At the age of ten, her father gave her a choice: traditional costume club or cross-country skiing?
The woman from Aschau decides against the dirndl and in favor of skis.
Since then, she has subordinated almost everything to her big dream of becoming a biathlon professional.
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Kink attends sports college in Norway
At the age of 16, Kink also took an unusual path to achieve this dream.
Until last summer, the 20-year-old attended the NTG Sports University in Lillehammer, Norway - as the first non-Norwegian ever to do so.
In 2023 she returned home with her high school diploma and plenty of sporting experience.
The first successes could already be seen in March of last year.
At the Biathlon Junior World Championships she won gold in the youth individual and the youth relay.
In the pursuit and sprint, Kink secured silver, behind Julia Tannheimer – another German biathlon gem.
Kink is crowned double junior world champion
Kink repeated the 2023 coup a year later and became two-time junior world champion in the mass start and sprint - this time among the older juniors.
The nomination for the World Cup in Soldier Hollow (USA) last weekend was the reward.
Participation alone would have been the highlight of Kink's career.
For the first time she traveled with her role models, like Tandrevold.
“It's something special to eat with them or sit on the plane with them,” said the young hopeful before the race.
Kink impresses Tandrevold in their first duel
Later, Kink and the Norwegian were not only on the plane together, but also on the trail right behind each other.
And the Germans’ performance left an impression on Tandrevold: “I was very impressed by the young German athlete.
It was very hard having her on my neck.
She was always there."
If everything goes according to plan, this will not only apply to the relay race on Saturday, but for the next few years... (
kk
)