Franziska Preuß made headlines on Sunday, March 23, 2025, when she triumphed in the Biathlon World Cup held in Oslo, marking her biggest success to date in a sport that captivates and thrills millions. Her victory at the legendary Holmenkollen came after a fiercely contested series of races against her closest competitor, Lou Jeanmonnot.
Preuß, who is 31 years old and hails from Bavaria, displayed exceptional skill and determination throughout the season. On March 21, 2025, during the sprint race, she secured victory with a narrow 0.2-second lead over Jeanmonnot. However, the tide turned in the pursuit race on March 22, when Jeanmonnot narrowly took the lead by five points after a strong performance. For the final showdown in the mass start race, Preuß rallied back, ultimately clinching the overall title and solidifying her status as a biathlon superstar.
Financially, the triumph couldn’t have come at a better time. Preuß amassed about 350,000 Euros in prize money over the winter season, a combination of previous winnings and her World Cup victory, which alone contributed an additional 40,000 Euros. For her performance in individual races, Preuß garnered 15,000 Euros each for her two individual victories and took home 12,000 Euros for winning the Sprints and Mass Start World Cups. In just one weekend, her earnings soared to 94,000 Euros, underscoring the lucrative nature of her sport.
The financial success extends beyond the World Cup as Preuß also excelled in the World Championships held in February 2025, where she secured four medals that netted her 55,000 Euros in premiums, including a gold for her near-perfect performance in the pursuit event.
Interestingly, Preuß's accomplishments this season have seen her surpassing the financial gains of prominent German ski jumpers. According to official statistics, Andreas Wellinger, the top earner among German male athletes in winter sports, made around 155,000 Euros this season, while Preuß outpaced female competitors including Selina Freitag, who earned just over 80,000 Euros. It's noteworthy that while alpine skiing competitors can earn substantially higher prize money—61,000 Euros for gold at the Alpine World Championships—Preuß's skill and determination have propelled her to unprecedented success in biathlon.
The path to this triumphant moment, however, wasn’t always smooth for Preuß. Just a year ago, she found herself sidelined by a series of health concerns, having to prematurely end her seasons due to infections and other ailments. A botched surgery on her sinus region just last spring kept her from fully participating in competitions. Fortunately, under a new training regime, Preuß reported significant improvements in her physical condition. "I just notice that there is no longer any focus in my body that limits me," Preuß shared, highlighting how her improved health has led to superior training performance.
Reflecting on her season, Preuß stated, "No matter how it ends, we can be proud of what we've accomplished," expressing admiration for both her achievements and those of her closest rival, Jeanmonnot, who herself had an impressive season with seven victories. Their rivalry has not only showcased the incredible talent in women's biathlon but also how competitive this discipline has become.
In the broader context of winter sports, Preuß’s win places her in an elite company. With this victory, she has the opportunity to become the sixth German woman to win the overall World Cup, an honor last achieved by Laura Dahlmeier in 2017.
As the season draws to a close, Preuß’s remarkable journey serves as inspiration for many. Her story exemplifies resilience and determination, and speaks volumes about the comebacks possible in sports.
With Preuß's fierce competitive spirit and her newfound health, the biathlon world will surely be watching for her next big performance. As she prepares for future events, fans eagerly anticipate how she will build on this exhilarating success.
