After breaking with the national team, the World Champion strikes back, rejecting all speculation and declaring herself a candidate for an Olympic medal.

The 31-year-old is used to being in the storm. She has experienced both golden highs and tough seasons – but retiring? Lisa Theresa Hauser dismisses that outright. On the contrary, says the Austrian.

Going at least until 2028

Her career highlight so far came with the World Championship gold in the mass start in Pokljuka in 2021. In the other events at that championship, she was far from the podium, and later, things didn’t really go her way either.

Last season started solidly and ended decently. She finished 11th overall but without significant achievements.

Also Read: Biathlon World Cup Season 2024/2025: Final standings after Oslo Holmenkollen

Now, the veteran is hitting back hard at rumors circulating in Austrian media that she is considering retirement. Quite the opposite: the 31-year-old has broken with the national team, has never been more motivated, and envisions several more years at the top level.

“If I continue to have so much joy and feel this passion, nothing stands in the way of a home World Championship in 2028,” Hauser told Kronen Zeitung.

She is now preparing for what will be her tenth World Cup season, aiming for her fourth Olympics.

Declares herself an Olympic medal candidate

Ahead of this season, Hauser chose to break with the Austrian national team. She is now pursuing her own path toward the 2026 Olympics in Antholz with sky-high ambitions.

“Sure, a medal would be nice. But if it doesn’t work out, no one will look back and say, ‘Oh, she didn’t win an Olympic medal,’”

Hauser is Austria’s biggest female biathlon star, and the first Austrian woman ever to win an individual World Championship gold.

At the 2022 Olympics, she was close: Hauser finished fourth in the sprint, just a hair’s breadth from bronze.

“Three were better back then,” she says, looking back at that almost-podium race nearly four years ago.

Had to confront the national team

Hauser also knows that medals can have a downside. The success after her mass start gold in Pokljuka in 2021 changed everything.

“The visibility I got after that, as the first Austrian in history, was enormous. But afterwards, things became complicated,” said Hauser in a previous interview.

Ahead of her buildup toward the 2026 Olympics, she took a stand and broke with the national team.

Also Read: Biathlon star leaves the national team: “It was a big change”

Needs to be held back

For Hauser, leaving the national team has given her new energy. She is now back with her former coach, Sandra Flunger, who also works with the Swiss national team.

“I’m more of a person who needs to be slowed down. Sometimes I train too long. Sandra doesn’t take kindly to that,” she says.

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