After more than a decade on the World Cup circuit, Franziska Preuß has ended her successful biathlon career.

On Saturday, the 31-year-old from Chiemgau, Germany, went to the start line one last time in the Olympic mass start, an emotional finale to a career defined by passion, setbacks, and great moments.

From Ruhpolding to the Olympics – A career of highs and lows

Since her World Cup debut in 2013, Franziska Preuß has been one of the main pillars of German biathlon. Known for her calm character, precision at the shooting range, and tactical intelligence on the track, she developed into a consistent and reliable competitor within the German biathlon national team.

Her greatest sporting highlight came last winter with her overall World Cup victory, and in 2015 at the World Championships in Kontiolahti, when she won gold in the women’s relay together with Laura Dahlmeier, Franziska Hildebrand, and Vanessa Hinz.

In total, she achieved 15 World Cup victories, 3 discipline titles, and countless top-10 finishes across 297 World Cup starts. At major events, she collected 11 World Championship medals and two Olympic bronze medals, in the mixed relay at Milano-Cortina 2026 and in the women’s relay at Beijing 2022.

However, Preuß’s career was also marked by repeated battles with health setbacks, infections, and injuries, which often forced her to pause. Her determination and patience made her a role model for many young athletes.

An emotional farewell in Antholz

In the 12.5 km mass start, Preuß once again fought bravely and visibly savored her final race. Although she never fulfilled her dream of winning an individual Olympic medal, she looked back on her career with deep satisfaction.

In an interview with ZDF at the finish line, she said, “It feels right to leave now. It was an incredibly beautiful time, and I’m immensely grateful for it.”

Despite finishing 28th with seven shooting mistakes, she was celebrated with respect and warmth after the race. Together with Dorothea Wierer, who also ended her impressive career, they skied a little extra lap after finishing the race and were celebrated by the fans. With their retirement, an era comes to an end, but teammates and coaches paid tribute to their commitment, strength, and team spirit.

A lasting role model

Even without a starting bib, Franziska Preuß will remain connected to biathlon as a positive, reflective role model for an athlete who never chose the easy path. Her humility, fairness, and calmness made her beloved among fans and fellow athletes alike. Her final Olympic appearance once again symbolized everything she stood for: passion all the way to the finish line.

Also Read: France takes gold and silver in women’s 12.5km Mass Start at Milano-Cortina 2026

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