Franziska Preuß and Justus Strelow have secured the bronze medal for Germany at the 2025 Biathlon World Championships held in Lenzerheide, Switzerland. The duo showcased their skills during the challenging Single-Mixed relay event, finishing strongly against tough competition from France and Norway.
Competing on February 20, 2025, the Germans faced off against strong national teams, with Preuß and Strelow chasing the elusive gold until the final moments. Eventually, they finished 8.3 seconds behind the winning French team, which included Julia Simon and Quentin Fillon Maillet, who clinched gold with their consistent speed and accuracy.
“It was fun, but it was painful, and I’m glad it ended with a medal,” said Strelow, reflecting on the challenges of the race. The competition was fierce, with teams competing fiercely for every second. The Germans marked this as their fourth medal at the championships, surrounding their earlier bronze medal achievement from the Mixed relay event, promising strength and performance as the event continued.
Preuß, who is the standout athlete of the championships this year, added, “Every medal is something special. Here to win one is not self-evident, as there are so many good teams.” Having previously taken gold in the pursuit and silver in the sprint, she has proven her mettle as the most successful competitor of the event.
Germany's success on the shooting range greatly contributed to their podium finish. The German athletes demonstrated impressive shooting skills, needing only four reloads throughout the race. This efficiency at the shooting stand is what Felix Bitterling, the sporting director, highlighted as instrumental to their success. “The medal is extremely important. We decided years ago to improve our mixed and single-mixed teams. They did fantastically,” he remarked.
Throughout the competition, the Germans had to combat not only the demanding shooting challenges but also the intense physical performance required of them. Preuß started strong, but after tangling with some pressure and facing two shooting misses, she lost some time, dropping to tenth place at one point. It was Strelow who managed to claw back for the team after taking over the baton, pushing himself forward to fifth place, showcasing his speed and shooting talent.
With Preuß concluding her segment and the baton passed to Strelow, the race remained close. But as they surged forward, pressure from Norway’s Johannes Thingnes Bö loomed behind them. Despite the push, Strelow managed to fend off his competitors until the very last stretch, finishing with poise and determination. Preuß acknowledged the immense pressure, saying, “The last round was extremely uncomfortable. But it has been like this for the whole race, with fast-paced athletes near me.”
This strong performance signals promising opportunities for Germany as they continue competing across other events scheduled during the 2025 championships. The German team looks forward to several more medal opportunities, especially considering Preuß’s remarkable run. She is poised to compete again, adding anticipation to the upcoming women's relay where she, the frontrunner, is considered one of the favorites for gold.
The FIS World Championships run until February 23, 2025, and Germany aims to expand its medal tally significantly. Preuß’s leadership and prowess will be central to their strategy, now even more emboldened by their successful outcome in the Single-Mixed relay.
With competitors like the French and Norwegian teams eyeing gold, the German athletes will need to maintain their hard-fought performances and keep their ambitions high. Now, on the path to the next chapter of the championship, Germany has shown they are not only participants but serious contenders on the global biathlon stage.