Goessner hopes to rock after biathlon blues

DPA/Val di Fiemme, Italy

Goessner has two biathlon world titles from past relays, but she failed to medal at the latest edition in the Czech resort of Nove Mesto and faced endless questions on her erratic showings in the shooting range in the sport twinning cross-country skiing and rifle shooting.

The 22-year-old has already proved her skill without a gun on the ski slopes as part of Germany’s silver-medal-winning cross-country relays at the 2009 Nordic worlds and 2010 Olympics.

Goessner hopes to rock the slopes again over 10 kilometres on February 26 and in the relay on February 28 in Val di Fiemme to overcome her biathlon blues, seeing the trip to northern Italy as a therapy to heal her wounded soul and pride before returning to the biathlon World Cup in Oslo the day after the relay.

“I think it is not so bad in order to clear my head again. I am looking forward to the cross-country worlds, to the whole team. I hope that I can strengthen the team,” Goessner said ahead of tomorrow’s opening of the Nordic worlds.

“It has been a long time since I competed against the cross-country women. I just want to have a great race and say that I gave it all I have.”

Goessner is not the only biathlete in Val di Fiemme, as Finland’s Kaisa Maekaeraeinen is also to feature in the 10km and relay, after salvaging her biathlon worlds campaign with a mass start bronze medal on Sunday.

The two follow in the footsteps of other prominent athletes.

Norwegian biathlete Lars Berger has four silvers from the worlds, but was even more successful without a rifle, winning three world titles (the 15km in 2007 and two relays) and an Olympic silver (relay) in cross-country skiing.

Compatriot Ole Einar Bjoerndalen has won a cross-country World Cup race on top of his 91 in biathlon and came close to an Olympic medal as well in 2002, placing fifth in the 30km, before sweeping all four biathlon golds at the Salt Lake City Games.

Goessner came to biathlon as a teenager via the alpine and cross-country teams. Others, including legendary Swede Magdalena Forsberg, Finland’s Kaisa Varis and German Evi Sachenbacher-Stehle, also started as cross-country skiers before becoming biathletes later in their careers.

Some have suggested over the years that Goessner should hang up her gun for good, given her fast skiing.

But Goessner will have none of it as she aims to build on her first three World Cup victories earlier in the season and does not want to miss a first Olympic biathlon experience next year in Sochi.

“It is only a very short switch. Biathlon is dear to my heart. But

I enjoy cross-country very much as well. I am delighted every time I get the chance to participate there,” she said.