She is one of the biggest medal contenders this winter. Now she reveals why she is leaving the national team and why she had to start entirely from scratch.

The 31-year-old, now entering her tenth World Cup season and preparing for her fourth Olympics, is rejecting the Association’s program in favor of a private setup.

“It was a big change, outside of my comfort zone, but it was the best option for me, even if it requires more organization and, inevitably, more budget,” Lisa Theresa Hauser told Austrian media.

Controversial decision

After two average seasons, Hauser has chosen to leave the national team’s system. She is returning to her former coach, Sandra Flunger, who now works with the Swiss national team.

The decision has been controversial. Hauser wants greater freedom to train in the way she believes works best.

“I can be quite stubborn, and I’m not always easy to be around,” she admits.

This summer, Hauser has trained in several new locations: Mallorca in May, Val Martello in Italy in July, with a detour to the Tour de France to cheer on Tadej Pogačar.

“It became complicated”

Lisa Theresa Hauser is Austria’s biggest female biathlon star and the first to win an individual World Championship gold. That came in the mass start at Pokljuka in 2021. Success changed everything.

“The visibility I got after that, as the first Austrian in history, was enormous. But afterwards, things became complicated,” says Hauser, and continues:

“I trained incorrectly and was sick a lot. But the fact that I still managed to perform during the season and win World Cup races probably hid much of it.”

Looking forward to the Olympics

Now Hauser is focused on the upcoming Winter Olympics, where the biathlon competitions will be held in Antholz-Anterselva.

“The hilly tracks suit me and my skiing technique well. And the South Tyrolean atmosphere makes me feel at home there,” says the 31-year-old about what will be her fourth (!) Olympic Games.

“I always prepare extremely thoroughly, but maybe with slightly lower shoulders since I’ve already taken part in three Olympics. That said, I don’t feel old yet!”

Not alone

Hauser is not the only biathlon star leaving the national team ahead of the 2026 Olympics. Several Norwegian athletes have also chosen their own training setups this season.

First, Emilie Kalkenberg announced she was leaving the national team after seven years with the Association. Shortly after, her brother Kasper Kalkenberg also turned down a national team spot in favor of his own setup.

Read More: “I only got worse being on the national team”

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