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News of 26th March 2003: Résumé of the season 2002/2003

Since yesterday the season 2002/2003 is over. Well, it’s not really over because the upcoming weekend there will still be the military world championships in Finland – at least it is planned this way. Anyway, because of the actual world political situation and relatively high temperatures this is more than doubtful! The last season was much different from the seasons before. We – but Andrea as well – had to experience for the first time that it is not only going steeply upwards again and again but that a less successful season is possible as well. But to be honest – it could be worse! Everybody, and especially the members of her fan club, can forgive Andrea. All the trouble, stress, etc. after the Olympic season which was overwhelming Andrea and the other girls, had to result somehow and somewhere. Additionally it still has to be mentioned that Andrea just had bad luck from time to time as well. So one thing led to another! As already mentioned the last season was a completely different one. Everything started with the fact that the world cup prelude in Hochfilzen had to be shifted to Oestersund/Sweden because of shortage of snow. Well, the fan club taboo word of the year – the foehn – was striking again; even the world cup of Pokljuka was taking place in Sweden. At the home world cup in Oberhof we all could see what a stress and pressure the Olympic champions had. Anyway, Andrea made all critics fall silent by showing great performances – and that on one of the most difficult tracks in the world cup calendar! With her top performances she seemed to want to convince the critics by saying: “Look carefully, I didn’t unlearn anything, I don’t have to be written off!!!!!!" Speaking about Oberhof it should still be mentioned that it has one of the best and most beautiful stadiums in the world cup circus since this season! The following world cups could take place in the places where they have originally been planned. The World Championships in Russia didn’t work out as everybody had hoped and expected before as well: Andrea just was allowed to participate in one competition. However, she showed a solid performance!! To sum up, this season was – and still will be – really educational for many of us. This belongs to sports as well – there cannot only be heights, there are always ups and downs, sometimes more, sometimes less! Besides that, heights are much more beautiful if they are reached after a less successful times, and victories can be celebrated much more intensive if they are not expected like being produced on an assembly line. Leadership team Andrea Henkel fan club

News of 24rd March 2003: Achatowa and Bjoerndalen win mass start competitions

Winning a silver medal in the final mass start competition, Sven Fischer crowned the great performances of the German ski-hunters at the Biathlon World Championships in Chanty Mansijsk. The team of the German Ski Federation (DSV), celebrating three victories as well as two silver and two bronze medals, was the most successful one in front of Norway (3/1/1) and host Russia (2/2/1). In the 15 km race Fischer just had to admit defeat to outstanding Norwegian Ole Einar Bjoerndalen being 49,1 seconds behind him. Raphael Poiree (France), the enthroned titleholder, finished third placed. The day before Russian Albina Achatowa, who became acquitted of doping by the International Biathlon Union directly before the WC started, won the women’s mass start competition about 12.5 km. She referred her teammate Swetlana Ischmuratowa, who showed a faultless shooting as well, and French Sandrine Bailly to the further medal places. German women lost all chances at the shooting range again. Katja Beer (Altenberg), shooting two penalties, became best German by finishing on place six. Uschi Disl (Moosham) was the fastest runner again. Anyway, she lost her head at the shooting range again and only finished on place 21 having 7 penalty loops. Kati Wilhelm (Zella-Mehlis) crossed the finishing line being still one place behind Uschi Disl. She had the third fastest running time and 6 «tickets» in her most problematic discipline – prone shooting. With the victory of Ricco Gross (Ruhpolding) in the pursuit competition, his second place in the sprint and his third place in the individual competition as well as by winning the title in the relay competition and Fischer’s silver medal, German men celebrated their best performance at World Championships since 1999. The women’s team, which was bet very high before, went home with the bronze medal in the relay competition and the victory of Martina Glagow (Mittenwald) in the pursuit. This has been the worst World Championships result since 1979. At least «Molli» Glagow crowned her outstanding season by winning the World Cup Total Score – being the first German biathlete who got this title yet. Ricco Gross became the most successful ski-hunter of the WC. The 32-year old athlete from Bavaria, who originally comes from Schwarzenberg in Saxony, earned the fruits of his consequent training, which was especially coordinated for the WC, and his permanent demands for optimal ski material. Last but not least it was him who made the wax man Enrico Heisig from Oberhof – who usually looks after the skis of combination World Champion Ronny Ackermann – coming to Siberia as fifth ski technician. «This has been really worth it. I had fantastic skis all the time», Gross praised. Second big winner of the WC is the coach of the men’s national team, Frank Ullrich, whose season planning worked out in the end. After all criticism by DSV-General Secretary Thomas Pfueller in January and the announcement to examine the coaches after the ending of the season as well, Ullrich thought about resignation for a day and already had talked to his wife about it. «Well, this would have been a running away from responsibility. Additionally I always believed in my training concept», he explained. The negotiations, which will follow now, can be lead by Ullrich out of a strengthened position. However, the gold medal in the relay competition did not remove all problems in the men’s team. Frank Luck, overtaking Frank Ullrich (9 WC title) by winning his tenth WC title and being the most successful German biathlete in the WC history now, Sven Fischer and Peter Sendel too often had bad skis during this winter. «There are so many athletes showing strong performances. One only can be among the best, if the material fits for 100 percent», said Luck. Furthermore the 35-year old noticed he would make his decision to go on for another seasons, where there would be his home WC in Oberhof, dependent on the ideas of the DSV on this topic, the new training concepts for the season 2003/2004 as well as on his own motivation. Source: de.sports.yahoo.com

News of 18th March 2003: Gross and Glagow win WC gold in the pursuit competition

Having won their titles in nerve-racking pursuit competitions Martina Glagow and Ricco Gross are the new Biathlon World Champions. After 10 kilometers the 23-year old athlete from Mittenwald tumbled the finishing line at exactly the same time as French Sandrine Bailly. First Glagow was celebrated for being the new World Champion. After a long checking of the finishing photo there was an unanimous vote of the jury that there should be two winners. «There was no difference to see», explained jury member Gottlieb Taschler from Antholz. A few hours earlier the 32-year old Gross from Ruhpolding crossed the finishing line being the winner of the pursuit – just 24 hours after his second place in the sprint competition. After a memorable women’s race with the first double victory of the WC history many tears have been shed. «When I saw Simone Denkinger and Andrea Henkel standing in the finishing area having wet eyes, I had to start crying as well», told Martina Glagow, who got nearly 35.000 Euro for the World Championships title. Additionally she got the small world cup trophy of the discipline “Pursuit” and increased her leadership in the world cup total score. Immediately after the decision to call her the winner of the race she talked about the fact that it would have been fairer to give both athletes the gold medal. The double gold was announced by IBU World Cup Director Janez Vodicar during the press conference – what made Sandrine Bailly crying. «That’s just wonderful. I’m so happy, that the jury made this decision», both champions said at once. During the finishing spurt Martina Glagow behaved tactically clever and decided to take the inner track of the last curve and finally throw herself over the finishing line. «That’s what the cross-country skiers showed us several times during their WC. Well, when I was lying in the snow, I at first didn’t mind at all if I am first or second placed. The most important thing was to get a medal», she described her thoughts, before she embraced her father Martin, who is her waxes her skies as well. Swetlana Ischmuratowa, finishing third placed, won the first medal for the WC hosts. With an energetic acceleration at the last but one hill Gross asserted the leading Norwegian Halvard Hanevold and celebrated his second WC victory in the pursuit competition. For both medals he got about 57.000 Euro. Hanevold, finishing second placed, had a leeway of 12,0 seconds. Finn Paavo Puurunen finished on place three (+56,3). Frank Luck from Oberhof, having the fastest running time of the day, fought himself from place 30 up to place five. «The more annoying were the three penalty loops of the day before. I never had such a bad WC sprint before», the 35-year old team old hand was angry with himself. Source: de.sports.yahoo.com

News of 16th March 2003: Bjoerndalen and Becaert are the new World Champions in sprint

Ole Einar Bjoerndalen and Sylvie Becaert are the new World Champions in the sprint competition. The Norwegian won with a faultless shooting in front of Ricco Gross and Zdenek Vitek. Sylvie Becaert asserted on Olena Petrova and Katerina Holubcova. Martina Glagow became best German on place ten. Congratulations on these performances! [...]. Already in the prelude race of the Biathlon world championships in the Russian Chanty Mansijsk Ricco Groß took off the pressure of the German ski-hunters by winning the silver medial in the sprint competition. «I have fulfilled half of my personal WC-goal», the sports soldier rejoiced after winning the WC-silver medal and finishing with his best result in sprint of the season. «I hope that we will win a medal with the relay, which is my most favorite competition, as well. Everything else is a kind of extra bonus», said the 32-years old athlete from Ruhpolding. At bright sunshine the three times Olympic Champion in relay just missed one target in the 10 km sprint. After crossing the finishing-line he had a leeway of 50,7 seconds on the superior and faultless shooting five times Olympic Champion Ole Einar Bjoerndalen. Finishing with a time of 26:52,1 minutes, the 29-years old Norwegian celebrated his first WC individual success. Place three went to Czech Zdenek Vitek, who was 2,2 seconds behind Gross in the end. The women’s sprint could be won by French Sylvie Becaert, despite of shooting a penalty, in 23:46,3 minutes in front of faultless shooting Olena Petrowa (Ukraine/+26,9 seconds) and Katerina Holubcova (Czech Republic/+32,7). Both new World Champions won the small world cup trophy for the sprint as well. Best placed of the five German women was Martina Glagow (Mittenwald), who shoot two penalties and finished on place 10 having a leeway of 57,8 seconds. Therefore, she is the only one still having a real chance for winning a medal in the pursuit on Sunday. Glagow defended the yellow bib for being the leader of the world cup total score as well. «I’m not dissatisfied, even if it would have been better to shoot a penalty less», said the blond girl from Bavaria. At the worst team result of the season the success-demanding specialists broke down on their nerves because of the 10 000 spectators and the pernicious shooting range. All together they missed 18 of 50 goals. «I really messed it up», said Uschi Disl (Moosham) being full of anger after shooting 5 penalties and finishing on place 34. «If the result won’t be the basis for tomorrow’s pursuit, this competition could easily be ticked off», added titleholder Kati Wilhelm (Zella-Mehlis) added. She even had to go through the penalty loop six times and just finished on place 37. «The women exactly did, what they shouldn’t have done. All of them shot anxiously. I missed quite a fair amount of cheek at the shooting range today. Well, all of them have lots of experiences. I really cannot explain that», the coach of the German national team, Uwe Muessiggang said a bit annoyed. The other three German ski-hunters apart from Ricco Gross were not that satisfied with their WC performance. «Two penalties and about one minute leeway in running up to Ole are a bit too much», Sven Fischer from Oberhof noticed after his 12th place. «This is not how I imagined the WC-start», grumbled Michael Greis (Nesselwang) after his 29th place, and team nach dem 29. Rang, und team-oldie Frank Luck (Oberhof), who as well as Greis had to go to the penalty loop three time and finished 30th placed, commented: «This was nothing.» Gross explained, that the most important reasons for his success – apart from the intensive training – were the new cut skis as well as the co-operation with the mental coach Thomas Bascha, which is existing for just a few weeks now. «He pointed things out to me that I failed to noticed for a long time», praised Gross.

News of 14th March 2003: Albina Achatowa will be allowed to participate in the World Championships

Russian world cup runner-up Albina Achatowa, who has been convicted of doping, will be allowed to participate in the biathlon world championships in the Siberian Khanty Mansiysk. The board of the International Biathlon-Union (IBU) made this decision. Team doctor Popowa has been banned for three months. The Russian Biathlon federation won't be granted subsidies for a whole year. Therefore, it loses about 50.000 Euro. After all doping tests of the 26-years old Russian athlete had been analyzed, it was clear that the illegal stimulating medicine nikethamide has been injected because of the dangerous state of health of Achatowa in consequence of the circulation collapse after the world cup relay competition on 24th January in Antholz. This is the result of the analysis of the A- and the B-sample in the anti-doping lab Kreischa. Samples of Achatowa, which have been taken one day before as well as two days after the victory in the mass start competition, have been without any negative diagnosis. «The facts are clear: Achatowa is innocent. She didn't do anything wrong», IBU president Anders Besseberg explained the decision, which has been coordinated with the medical commission of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as well. «If this is the truth, it is ok. Anyway, I would have preferred a more offensive treatment of that case. The Russians should already have said in Antholz that her doctor injected an illegal medicine», said the coach of the German national team Uwe Muessiggang. «We stay hardliner in the fight against doping. Therefore, we demanded as high punishments as possible according to our rules and the anti-doping rules, which passed in Copenhagen, for the doctor as well as for the Russian federation», explained the Norwegian. He referred to the international athletics federation (IAAF). «If an athlete is tested positive on this stimulating medicine here, the only punishment will be a warning», said Besseberg. Heinz Billion, German IBU-Vice-President, sees the necessity to increase the anti-doping rules of the federation again. «If it were up to me, the convicted doctors would be banned lifelong», he added. Source: sport.de

News of 20th February 2003: Strong performance of the German team at the sprint in Oestersund

Rumors of doping concerning Russian Albina Achatowa cast a shadow over the victory of the German biathletes at the world cup sprint in Oestersund. Olympic champion Kati Wilhelm from Zella-Mehlis celebrated her third victory in the post-Olympic winter. After 7.5 km Wilhelm was in lead by 7.1 seconds on just as faultless shooting Olena Zubrilowa (Belarus). Uschi Disl (Moosham) finished third placed, having a leeway of 0.6 seconds on Zubrilowa. Finishing on place five, Martina Glagow (Mittenwald) defended her second place behind Jekaterina Dafowska in the overall world cup score in middle Sweden. Andrea, who finished on rank 17, collected world cup points as well. At the edge of the race doping speculations about seventh placed Achatowa appeared. Her drug test after the world cup mass start in Antholz/South Tyrol was said to be tested positive. This was proved to be true by the Finish doctor Hannu Litmanen, member of the medical committee of the International Biathlon Union (IBU). The Russian team explained that Achatowa, who was totally exhausted after her victory in Antholz, got an infusion to get strengthened again before she was tested. The IBU didn’t officially confirm the positive A-test. “We are not allowed to say something about those results before the B-test will be checked on 28th February”, said IBU secretary-general Peter Bayer, referring to the rules of the world federation. Anyway, since the B-test will be opened and tested there are suspicions that the A-test might have been positive. Source: de.sports.yahoo.com Results: Final result Competition analysis

News of 14th February 2003: Germany applied the wrong wax to the relay – Russia wins

Having blunted skies the German biathletes trudged behind the international top teams. Within the last relay competition before the world championships in Khanty Mansiysk Martina Glagow (Mittenwald), Uschi Disl (Moosham), Katrin Apel (Frankenhain) and Kati Wilhelm (Zella-Mehlis) couldn’t reach a place on the rostrum for the first time during this winter. In the end they finished the 4x6 km on place four. After the relay competition at the “holy ski mountain” in Norway, the Russian girls, who celebrated a convincing victory in front of Belarus and France, are said to be the favorites for the world championships now. The German ski-hunters tried to avoid all public criticism on the technicians. On the contrary: “I didn’t have anything to add”, Martina Glagow judged her run. Uschi Disl, who needed four spare rounds, became a bit hectic after a cartridge was wedging. “And I was not that good in running”, said Katrin Apel, who was the only one who didn’t need a spare round. Together with Russian Olga Saizewa she was the fastest one on her round and was very happy about her faultless shooting – even if “other nations had some better skies today”. Finally, Kati Wilhelm was “not really satisfied” with her performance. Saying this they met the opinion of the coach of the German national team, Uwe Muessiggang. “Public discussions about the material make no sense. We have to talk about it internally and try to do it better next time. It sounds like an excuse and it gets boring, if we curse at the ski because we missed a place on the rostrum”, emphasized the coach. “Anyway, today we needed five spare rounds more than the Russians. This costs about a minute. Additionally Uschi lost another 15 to 20 seconds because of her problems with the rifle”, Muessiggang thinks about the clear leeway in relative terms. Additionally the result showed, that his team has no subscription for a world championships medal in Khanty Mansiysk. “There are many nations who want to and even can reach a place on the rostrum. Therefore, we have to work hard”, he warned everybody not to show too much self-confidence. Source: de.sports.yahoo.com Results: Final result Competition analysis

News of 09th February 2003: Double win for Germany: Wilhelm in front of Glagow

On Sunday sprint Olympic champion Kati Wilhelm (Zella-Mehlis) and Martina Glagow (Mittenwald) ensured the first double victory of the German biathletes in the world cup in the post-Olympic winter. The Thuringian won the mass start competition about 12.5 kilometers clearly in front of her Bavarian teammate, who was still able to relegate Bulgarian world cup leader Jekaterina Dafowska to third place in a final spurt. Together with Uschi Disl (Moosham) Glagow did lead the field of the 30 starters for a long time but dropped back after getting two “tickets” at the first standing shooting. Disl finished sixth placed. Andrea unfortunately had to go through the penalty loop eight times and finished on place 30. Chin up Andrea, there will be better times soon! Source: de.sports.yahoo.com Results: Final result Competition analysis

News of 08th February 2003: Olga Pyleva wins sprint in Lahti

At the biathlon world cup sprint in Lahti, Olympic champion Kati Wilhelm (Zella-Mehlis) finished on place three. After 7.5 kilometers she was 3.7 seconds (including a penalty loop) behind victorious Russian Olga Pylewa. Her teammate, Albina Achatowa, finished second placed having a leeway of 2.3 seconds. Even Katja Beer (Altenberg) on place four and Katrin Apel (Frankenhain), Simone Denkinger (Gosheim) and Martina Glagow (Mittenwald) on positions seven to nine were able to convince. For Andrea it unfortunately didn’t worked as planned today. With two penalty loops she finished on place 27 and therefore collected world cup points. Source: de.sports.yahoo.com Results: Final result Competition analysis

News of 26th January 2003: Albina Achatowa on first place - Andrea on rank 11

Three penalties in the last standing shooting made Uschi Disl missing the victory of the mass start in Antholz. Finishing on place 6 Disl, who has been successful in Oberhof before, was the best German starter. Thanks to a faultless performance at the shooting range, Russian Albina Achatowa could celebrate the first world cup victory of her carrier in the end. In 36:42,8 minutes Achatowa relegated French Sylvie Becaert and Corinne Niogret to the places. The leader of the world cup total score, Jekaterina Dafowska from Bulgaria, finished on rank 13 and is now leading with 469 points – being just 42 points in front of Becaert. Andrea had to go through the penalty loop three times and became second best German, finishing on place 11. Further rankings: Martina Glagow (Mittenwald) on place 14, Simone Denkinger (Gosheim) on place 18, Kati Wilhelm (Zella-Mehlis) on place 22, and Katja Beer (Altenberg) became 25th. Source: de.sports.yahoo.com Results: Final Result Competition analysis

News of 24th January 2003: Russia wins relay competition

Again the German biathletes finished “only” second placed. In the world cup relay competition in Antholz the women’s team was beaten by Russia. In the line-up Simone Denkinger from Gosheim, Uschi Disl from Moosham, Romy Beer from Altenberg and Kati Wilhelm from Zella-Mehlis the relay of the German Ski Federation (DSV) was 32.8 seconds behind the World Champion, who was celebrating it’s third victory of the season, after 4x6 km. Place three went to Belarus. The DSV-team, who has two victories on it’s account this season, already finished second placed for the fourth time and defended it’s leadership in the relay world cup with 284 points in front of Russia (276). For the first time in this season the German relay team stayed without any penalty loop. Source: de.sports.yahoo.com Results: Final Result Competition analysis

News of 23rd January 2003: Ekaterina Dafovska wins - Andrea on place 31

The German biathletes are tired. At the prelude of the world cup in Antholz Uschi Disl (Moosham) experienced a pitch-black afternoon, shooting eight “tickets”. Having finished on place 50 she groaned: "Just forget it as fast as possible”. For the women it was the worst 15 km individual result of the season with Martina Glagow on place seven. Bulgarian Jekaterina Dafowska won the competition. Considering the top results of the last weeks, women’s coach Uwe Muessiggang kept calm. “Of course, I can’t be satisfied this time, but I can understand the girls. It’s a great strain at the moment, additionally there was the rearrangement with the height.” Already on Friday (1.45 p.m.) the 4x6 km relay will be on the program. World cup leader Dafowska was 29.1 seconds faster than second placed French Sandrine Bailly and celebrated her third victory of this winter. “I run like being in trance, I’m really done in the height”, said 23-year old Glagow after her seventh place. Simone Denkinger (Gosheim) finished 14th placed, Kati Wilhelm (Zella-Mehlis) on rank 22. With four penalty loops Andrea finished on place 31 and unfortunately missed the world cup point’s rankings. Source: de.sports.yahoo.com Results: Final Result Competition analysis

News of 19th January 2003: Gala performance of Andrea in pursuit competition

Within a hair’s breadth it would have worked out with a world cup victory for the German biathletes. Anyway, Martina Glagow surprised the team with the fourth second place at the world cup in Ruhpolding. One penalty at the last shooting prevented the victory for the athlete from Mittenwald, who already finished second placed in the sprint competition before. The pursuit could be won by the Bulgarian leader of the world cup total score, Ekaterina Dafovska, being in lead by 28.2 seconds on Martina Glagow. With a leeway of 43.7 seconds Russian Swetlana Ischmuratowa finished third placed. With a fantastic running performance and a faultless shooting Andrea improved from rank 24 to the fourth place. In the world cup total score Dafovska leads with 399 points, Glagow is on fourth place being 100 points behind Dafovska. Katja Beer had to renounce the race because of illness. Having missed the victory just within a hair’s breadth Martina Glagow said about the crucial situation within the 10 km pursuit: "Before the last shooting I took some extra time, but anyway, the first shoot missed it’s target. I was really angry about that.” “It was that narrow”, showed the coach of the German national team, Uwe Muessiggang. There was not much space left between the thumb and the forefinger of his right hand. Just because of that penalty Glagow had to concede the victory to Dafovska, who extended the leadership in the world cup total score. Finally Muessiggang was satisfied. “We showed a fantastic team performance.” Behind Glagow double Olympic champions Andrea Henkel (Oberhof) and Kati Wilhelm (Zella-Mehlis) improved on ranks four and seven. After her fourth place in the sprint competition Uschi Disl (Moosham), who had a cold, again convinced with place twelve. Source: de.sports.yahoo.com Results: Final Result Competition analysis

News of 19th January 2003: Next year Oberhof without world cup - Sashurin offended against conditions

In Ruhpolding Anders Besseberg rejected the hopes of Oberhof to carry out a world cup competition in addition to the world championships (6th to 15th February) next winter. The IBU would proceed according to the guidelines, after which the organizers of world championships will not be concerned with a world cup competition. "We have much more applicants for world cups than competition dates. Therefore, it wouldn’t be fair to integrate an organizer of World Championships into the world cup as well”, explained Besseberg. According to the plan of the IBU the world cup 2004 will guest in Pokljuka/Slovenia on the traditional Oberhof date in the beginning of January. Therefore, Besseberg disassociated himself from an earlier confirmation, according to which the IBU gave a guarantee for the world cups in Oberhof, Ruhpolding and Antholz until 2006 to ensure the so-called Biathlon-Trophy of the three most important world cup organizers. If the Trophy will see its seventh edition next winter (at the moment the Trophy pays 140.000 Euro additional price money to the best athletes), is not certain yet. The International Biathlon Union (IBU) knows no mercy for drug-takers. The banning against the Belarussian biathlete Wadim Saschurin has been prolonged from nine month up to two years. On the fringe of the world cup in Ruhpolding Anders Besseberg (Norway), president of the International Biathlon Union (IBU), explained the increase of the punishment by missing engagement of the former World champion in relay in the anti-doping campaign of the IBU. In September 2002 the 32-year old Saschurin has been convinced of taking by-products of the anabolic steroid nandrolone by A- and B-sample. Apart from a 15 months ban he got the condition to support the IBU-campaign “for clean biathlon sports”. According to Besseberg Saschurin didn’t do that. Therefore, the ban has been prolonged up to two years. Now it will end on 12th September 2004. Source: sportschau.de

News of 17th January 2003: Galina Koukleva wins in Ruhpolding – Andrea on rank 24

Russian Galina Koukleva prevented the first victory of the German women’s team at the biathlon world cup in Ruhpolding since 1999. After 7.5 km the Olympic champion of Nagano could celebrate her second victory of the season, being in lead by 25.1 seconds on faultless shooting Martina Glagow (Mittenwald). In the international competition on the leading positions Russian Olga Pylewa finished third placed, in front of local kingpin Uschi Disl (Moosham). The last German winner of the world cup in the Chiemgau just missed the victory rostum by 11.4 seconds. Katrin Apel (Frankenhain) on rank nine and Kati Wilhelm (Zella-Mehlis) on place ten completed the fantastic German team result. Bulgarian Jekaterina Dafowska defended the yellow bib for being the leader of the world cup total score by finishing sixth placed. After prone shooting Andrea was among the leading group but shoot two penalties at standing shooting and dropped back. Anyway, with place 24 there are good chances for the pursuit competition on Sunday. «With the place on the victory rostum Molly dotted an i. Her shooting was as safe and fast as ever and she showed a great running performance. It is a fantastic starting position for the pursuit on Sunday to have four athletes among the top ten. », Uwe Muessiggang said happily. Simone Denkinger (Gosheim), with two penalty loops on place 21 and Katja Beer (Altenberg) on rank 35 have been the further German starters. Quelle: de.sports.yahoo.com Results: Final result Competition analysis

News of 12th January 2003: Uschi Disl wins mass start - Andrea on place 12

In presence of 18.000 spectators Uschi Disl won the mass start competition in Oberhof. The 32-year old ski hunter of SC Moosham detonated her famous “Turbo-Disl”, showing a sensational finishing spurt on the last 500 meters of the 12.5 kilometers long track. She fought the world cup leader Jekaterina Dafowska, who was still leading after the last shooting, and prevented the victory-hat trick of the Bulgarian by winning her first individual competition for 22 months. Within this competition, which was full of drama, Sylvie Becaert (France) finished third placed in front of Martina Glagow (Mittenwald). “ Thanks to the audience! The fantastic spectators did really scream me up every hill. This made up more than just a few seconds today”, said Uschi Disl. With that she made the unique atmosphere in the full stadium at the Grenzadler boiling over. Together with her six teammates she ensured the spectators sloshing many “La Ola” waves through the stadium. Andrea was able to confirm her upwards-trend with two penalty loops and place twelve. Now she is on the 5th place in the trophy scoring. With altogether 55.000 spectators on the five competition days there was a new spectators record at the final rehearsal for the world championships 2004. Source: de.sports.yahoo.com Results: Final result Competition analysis

News of 10th January 2003: Olympic team wins relay in Oberhof

The “Golden Girls” of Salt Lake City ensured the first German victory in the new biathlon stadium of Oberhof. With the line-up Katrin Apel (Frankenhain), Uschi Disl (Moosham), Andrea Henkel (Oberhof) and Kati Wilhelm (Zella-Mehlis) the German relay hold their own in the Oberhofer pandemonium in presence of 10.000 enthusiastic spectators in front of the Russian quartette, which was 28.9 seconds behind the Germans after crossing the finishing-line. The quartette from France finished third placed with a leeway of 1:35.8 seconds. Like in Salt Lake City starting runner Katrin Apel gave her three team mates a leeway to take with them after a nail-biting shooting bout with one penalty loop in standing shooting. “I hope the other three will have a better day then I had”, said the a bit depressed Thuringian athlete, who exchanged on fourth place, 44,1 seconds behind the leading Bulgarians. “Anyway, in Salt Lake my leeway was even bigger”, she added with gallows humor. Uschi Disl fought herself up to the second place, showing a real storm-run and having the fastest course time. “After my bad cold on Christmas I find my feet from competition to competition again. I needed the competitions in Oberhof – for my self-confidence as well”, she said beaming with delight. Andrea just needed one spare round and won the leading position with the best time of all third runners (altogether third time of all competitors), even if it was very slim in front of the Russians. “Galina Kuklewa dawdled a bit in the first round. When she was clinging to my skies on the last kilometers again, I was pretty startled”, said the double Olympic champion. Anyway, Andrea surprisingly was able to stall Galina Kuklewa, who normally is much stronger in running, easily on the last round and brought Kati Wilhelm in the leading position. On the final section Kati Wilhelm made the competition thrilling again. During the prone shooting she needed all spare rounds and therefore dropped back 14 seconds behind the Russian final runner Olga Pylewa. However, with a great running performance she made up leeway until she came to the second shooting. “The fantastic audience really drove me to the top again, that was really great”, said Kati and liked to thank the spectators. The coach of the German national team, Uwe Muessiggang, praised his girls. “I wouldn’t have liked to shoot today. One first of all has to be able to cope with the loud background. That really gets under your skin. Congratulations, how the girls did it”, mentioned Muessiggang. “Not only how they fought for the victory, but for the dramatic course of the competition as well. No director would have been able to make this more thrilling,” he said smiling. Source: de.sports.yahoo.com; sport1.de Results: Final result Competition analysis

News of 8th January 2003: Andrea furiously starts into the new year

At the first of all world cup competitions in the new biathlon stadium of Oberhof the large-scale attack of the local Olympic champions to the victory rostum just failed. Andrea Henkel (Oberhof), Katrin Apel (Frankenhain) and Kati Wilhelm (Zella-Mehlis) finished the 7.5 km sprint competition, which was won by Jekaterina Dafowska from Bulgaria, on the places four to six. In the 6.5 million Euros expensive new WC stadium at the Grenzadler (Oberhof is organizer of the world championships 2004), where 6.000 spectators were present, Dafowska relegated her hardest pursuer in the overall world cup score, Sylvie Becaert (France), and Katerina Holubcova (Czech Republic) to the places and built up the leadership in the overall world cup. With 269 points the Olympic champion of Nagano is in front of Becaert (261). The coach of the German national team, Uwe Muessiggang, was happy “about a very good team result” in the end, to which Simone Denkinger (Gosheim) as eighth placed and Katja Beer with place ten have been a contributing factor as well. “We are among the top ten with five athletes. Anyway, it would have been great to get one of them on the victory rostum. It still didn’t work that good in running, but we will make up for it during the next days”, said the coach. “The track was unbelievably difficult. My thighs were not able to work anymore”, said Andrea. “I was just hoping that I don’t have to go through the penalty loop. 7.5 km have been enough. I really didn’t need the additional 150 meters of the penalty loop. Andrea stayed faultless at the shooting range and missed the third place by 3.5 seconds in the end. “Maybe it was just too cold. I am a real chilblain. But with two pairs of gloves it was ok while running”, told the 25-year old after the competition at twelve degrees below zero. Source: de.sports.yahoo.com; sport1.de Results: Final result Competition analysis

News of 29th December 2002: Glagow/Greis win „Biathlon AufSchalke“

In the arena “AufSchalke” 35.180 soccer fans screamed the duo Martina Glagow (Mittenwald) and Michael Greis (Nesselwang) to the victory of the Biathlon World Team Challenge. The Bavarians, who just replaced the Olympic medal winners Uschi Disl (Moosham) and Sven Fischer (Oberhof), won the invitation competition about 12.6 kilometers with ten shooting bouts without any penalty loop in 40:30.7 minutes. Place two was reserved for the Russians Albina Achatowa/Wiktor Majgurow (25.8 seconds behind), who were leading for a long time, in front of the Finns Sanna-Leena Perunka/Vesa Hietalahti (49.9 seconds behind). On the 968 meters long track the Oberhofer Andrea Henkel/Frank Luck was the second best German team at this biathlon show that took place around a roofed soccer-arena for the first time. “We are not used to that many spectators. They motivated me a lot and it was great fun”, said the 26-year old Allgaeuer. His three years younger partner, with whom he had to share the 10.000 Euros price money and the small car (Ford Fiesta), thought it was “totally cool. The people screamed that much that they made me really breathless. Even if we didn’t fought for world cup points, this victory gives motivation for the next competitions”, Glagow added. “The atmosphere is unique, even if this competitions was not just about sports”, praised the coach of the German men national team, Frank Ullrich, the price money invitation competition which has already been organized for the tenth time by the Ruhpoldinger ZDF-commentator Herbert Fritzenwenger. The stars of the scene, coming from seven nations, did a good advertising for their sports. “In front of the great and laud background some didn’t escape the shooting unscathed. Shooting under these conditions had a kind of “aha-effect”, Ullrich noticed.

News of 22nd December 2002: Ekaterina Dafovska wins pursuit competition

Bulgarian Ekaterina Dafovska has won the last competition in Osrblie before the Christmas break. The Olympic champion in the individual competition of Nagano had to go through the penalty loop two times and won in front of Galina Koukleva (4 penalty loops) and Martina Glagow (2 penalty loops). Dafovska took over the yellow bib for being the leader of the world cup total score as well. With Kati Wilhelm (place 11), Uschi Disl (place 13) and Katja Beer (place 17) as well as Katrin Apel as 21st and Simone Denkinger with place 26 further Germans could collect world cup points. Despite of 5 penalty loops Andrea improved about 14 places and crossed the finishing line on place 36. On the way up one also has to go through valleys. Andrea, your downward trend will find an end soon! Results: Final result Competition analysis

News of 21st December 2002: Belarus wins relay competition

The German biathlon team reached the second place at the last relay competition of the year in the Slovakian Osrblie. After 4x6 km Martina Glagow from Mittenwald, Simone Denkinger from Gosheim, Katja Beer from Altenberg and double Olympic champion Kati Wilhelm from Zella-Mehlis were beaten by only seven seconds by the quartet of Belarus. Norway secured itself the third place (30.5 seconds back) in front of Bulgaria (56.8 seconds back). In the relay world cup total score the team of the German Ski Federation (DSV) extended its leadership up to 142 points and is with 142 points in front of the Russians (130), who finished fifth this time. Source: de.sports.yahoo.com Results: Final result Competition analysis

News of 19th December 2002: Galina Koukleva wins Sprint in Osrblie

The Russian biathlon team has coped best with the move of the world cup caravan from the Swedish Oestersund into the Slovakian Osrblie. Galina Koukleva won the sprint world cup competition in front of Albina Achatowa. On the difficult WC track of 1997, Uschi Disl (Moosham) ran onto the third place with two penalty loops. Martina Glagow (Mittenwald) fell down 100 m before the finishing line and missed the pedestal as sixth by 6.2 seconds. The yellow bib for being the leader of the world cup total score changed from Katja Beer (Altenberg), who reached place 15, to Sylvie Becaert. For Andrea nothing worked as planned: with three penalty loops she will start into the pursuit competition from place 50 on Sunday. "At present I am not happy with my performance at the shooting range and I fear that this is not getting better till Sunday. I am also very sad about this fact ". But Andrea looks optimistically into the future "because my performances in Austlid (last training camp) were very good and I hope to be able to attack in the new year again". Chin up Andrea! Source: de.sports.yahoo.com; andrea-henkel.de Results: Final result Competition analysis

News of 15th December 2002: Katja Beer won Pursuit in Oestersund

Katja Beer won the pursuit competition in Oestersund. The 26-year-old biathlete from Altenberg not only celebrated her first world cup victory of her career but also took over the yellow bib for being the leader of the world cup total score. Within the 10 km pursuit competition Beer hit all 20 targets. The Norwegian Linda Tjörhom, winner of the sprint competition, was 50.1 seconds behind the leader when crossing the finishing-line. Finn Sanna-Leena Perunka surprisingly finished on third position. Andrea started off the competition from place seven, had to go through the penalty loop three times and got precious world cup points by finishing on place 13. Martina Glagow (Mittenwald/6th), Uschi Disl (Moosham/16th), Kati Wilhelm (Zella-Mehlis/20th), Simone Denkinger (Gosheim/21st) and Katrin Apel (Frankenhain/29th) got points for the world cup total score as well. Source: de.sports.yahoo.com Results: Final result Competition analysis

News of 13th December 2002: Linda Tjoerhom wins Sprint - Andrea on place seven

Flawless shooting Norwegian Linda Tjoerhom surprisingly won the 7.5 km sprint competition. With the first world cup victory of her career the 23-year-old former junior world champion relegated Swetlana Ischmouratowa (Russia/1,7 seconds behind) and Ekaterina Dafowska (Bulgaria/5,8) to the places. The best of the seven German starters was Katja Beer (Altenberg) on the sixth place being 26,9 seconds behind. With a terrific running performance and one miss on the shooting range Andrea finished on an excellent seventh place. Within the pursuit competition, which will take place on Sunday, she will enter the cross-country skiing trail being 28,0 sec. behind. Uschi Disl (Moosham) on the ninth place and Martina Glagow on position eleven completed the good team performance again. The coach of the German national team, Uwe Muessiggang, didn’t quarrel with the tough luck: “We cannot expect to be in positions 1,2,3 all the time. I just got angry about the four misses of Uschi Disl." Source: sport1.de Results: Final result Competition analysis

News of 11th December 2002: Germany's relay on place two

In the gusty wind of Oestersund the series of victories of the German biathletes in relay competitions finally broke. The Russian quartet knew what’s what and won after 4 x 6 kilometers in front of the DSV team in the line-up Martina Glagow (Mittenwald), Simone Denkinger (Gosheim), Andrea Henkel (Oberhof) and Katja Beer (Altenberg). Place three went to Bulgaria. While the Russians got through the eight shootings bouts without any penalty loop and needing only eight spare rounds, Simone Denkinger missed three targets and therefore additionally had to run 450 meters. The winning team needed 1:21:03,2 hours. The German quartet, having been undefeated in many various line-ups since the 25th January of this year, needed 16 of the 24 available spare rounds and was 2:01,8 minutes behind the winners when crossing the finishing-line. «Simmi was really unlucky. At her shooting the wind blew extremely strong», said the coach of the German national team, Uwe Muessiggang, warding off everything reproaching the Swabian biathlete, who was the only one already having participated in the successful relay of last week. After the first change Simone Denkinger dropped back from the second to the sixth position being 2:11 minutes behind the leading team. Olympic champion Andrea Henkel, who celebrated her 25th birthday together with the whole team the day before, impressed with a sovereign performance. She made up leeway to 1:35 minutes by only needing three spare rounds and changed in third position, nearly with the same time as the Bulgarians. «Today one needed to be lucky with the wind. And I was», she modestly noticed after running the fastest round of all third competitors. Even though Katja Beer had to let the leeway grow again, she maintained the second place against the strong shooting Bulgarians. Source: de.sports.yahoo.com Results: Final result Competition analysis

News of 08th December 2002: Kati Wilhelm wins pursuit competition - Andrea runs onto place 11

Kati Wilhelm crowned the strong appearance of the German Biathletes with the first individual world cup victory of the season. The double Olympic champion ran from starting place five to the triumph in the 10 km pursuit competition in Oestersund. After 32:55.8 minutes Wilhelm won the fourth world cup of her career with two penalty loops. Andrea ran onto place 11 with a terriffic running performance, three penalty loops and improved ten places. The Russian Olga Saizeva secured herself the second place with 16.1 seconds delay and defended her leadership in the world cup ranking in front of Kati Wilhelm successfully. Katja Beer leading for a long time proved place three with 25.5 seconds delay and made the second pedestal place of her career. Uschi Disl (Moosham) on place eight, Katrin Apel (Frankenhain) as ninth and Romy Beer (Altenberg) on rank 14 completed the strong German performance. Source: de.sports.yahoo.com Results: Final result Competition analysis

News of 07th December 2002: Germany wins relay competition

The German biathlon team won the first relay competiton on 4x6 km. After two penalty loops from Kati Wilhelm at last shooting they needed the involuntary help of the Norwegian final runner Gunn Margit Andreassen for the victory in Oestersund. With the three Olympic champions Katrin Apel (Frankenhain), Uschi Disl (Moosham) and Kati Wilhelm (Zella-Mehlis) as well as team newcomer Simone Denkinger (Gosheim) the German quartet won with two penality loops by final runner Kati Wilhelm. Like in Salt Lake City, Norway reached the second place (17.4 sec behind) in front of Russia (40.4 sec behind). Although the German relay team was on winning course until the last change, it got thrilling in the end. Having eight rounds, Kati Wilhelm only met three targets and invited Norway to overtake. But Gunn Margit Andreassen got nervous in view of the winning chance, with the last four shots she missed the fifth target and also had to turn a penalty loop, and this was enough for the victory of the German relay team. Earlier, starting runner Katrin Apel had changed with 28.3 seconds delay on fourth place to the leading Norwegians. By the day best time of Uschi Disl Germany took over the leadership which Simone Denkinger enlarged on 47.1 seconds regarding to the weakly shooting pursuers despite of needing four spare rounds. Source: de.sports.yahoo.com Results: Final results Competition analysis

News of 06th December 2002: Olga Zaitseva wins - Andrea on 21st place

At the world cup prelude in Oestersund the performance of the German biathletes was not good enough to reach a place on the podium. Andrea, who was among the top athletes after the first shooting, dropped back to 21st place because of three misses at the standing shooting. In the 7.5 km sprint Katja Beer (Altenberg) and Olympic champion Kati Wilhelm (Zella-Mehlis) finished 4th and 5th placed. Reaching the 7th place Martina Glagow (Mittenwald) fulfilled the intern German norm for the world championships straight off as well. Russian Olga Zaitseva won the first world cup competition of her career in 23:43,9 minutes, being in lead by 1.8 seconds on French Sylvie Becaert. Olympic champion Olga Pylewa (Russia), who won the pursuit competition during the Olympic games in Salt Lake City, secured herself the third position. The pursuit will take place in Oestersund on Sunday (10.30 a.m./live on ZDF). Here the athletes will start according to the results they reached in the sprint. "Altogether we were too weak at the shooting range today. This was probably caused by the excitement before the first competition. We were not able to show our training performances today, but I’m sure that this will get better soon”, said the coach of the German national team, Uwe Muessiggang: "The positions were not bad anyway. It was a fair to middling start for us." Olympic champion in relay, Katrin Apel (Frankenhain), finished 15th placed with three misses, Uschi Disl (Moosham) even allowed herself five misses and had to be satisfied with the 24th place. Source: sportschau.de

News of 06th December 2002: Rain instead of snow in Pokljuka - World cup definitely moved to Oestersund

The world cup of the biathletes in Pokljuka had to be moved to Swedish Oestersund after all because of shortage of snow. The competitions, which were planed to take place in Slovenia from 11th to 15th December, finally had to be cancelled and alternatively will take place in Sweden now. The world cup prelude, which originally should have been organized by Hochfilzen, has already been moved there. All the commitment of the helpers was without success. The organizers in Pokljuka had already cancelled the world cup in the beginning of the week. After 20 cm fresh snow were falling down on the 1400 meters high located plateau on the foot of the Triglav mountains, the organizers thought they would be in the position to carry out the competitions. Now the head of the OC, Borut Nunar, conceded, that the commitment of 129 soldiers and numerous other helpers was without success. Instead of the predicted heavy snowfalls it was pouring in the end, the 4.500 cubic meters of snow, which already had been summoned up, are melting according to the statement given by Nunar. The International Biathlon Union (IBU) is confronted with the criticism of the teams now. Like the other nations, the team of the German Ski Federation (DSV) had to cancel the return flight from Oestersund having been booked after the promise given by Pokljuka. Source: sportschau.de

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