Face masks in the living room, separate bedrooms, and individual bathrooms – the biathlon star and her partner have introduced strict household rules.

The last season’s biathlon World Cup winner has struggled with recurring health issues, including respiratory infections, influenza, and other viruses, for a long time. Now, Franziska Preuss has taken drastic measures.

Together with her partner, Simon Schempp, a former Olympic and World Champion in biathlon, the German biathlon star has established an iron regime at home.

“Yes, we even sleep in separate rooms; luckily, we have guest rooms,” Franziska Preuss said on the BR24 podcast, adding:

“There were times when one of us always wore a mask at home to protect the other. We have separate bedrooms and bathrooms. We are extremely professional in this regard.”

For the biathlon couple, it’s completely necessary.

“We have implemented strict discipline during competition periods and a little before, to minimize all risks of infection. If Franzi misses a race, it’s the ultimate punishment, so we make sure to avoid it,” said Schempp.

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“Like living in a monastery”

Preuss, who won the overall World Cup in the very last race of the final weekend at Holmenkollen, now Schempp admits the regime feels extreme.

“We sometimes live like we’re in a monastery, and we don’t hesitate to celebrate Christmas outside, again to avoid the risk of infection”, said Simon Schempp.

Preuss adds that Schempp is the stricter of the two.

“When I’m a little hesitant, Simon is my first point of contact. He’s known me for years like no other coach. He also knows how I work. And that goes far beyond the theories you hear from some coaches,” said Preuss.

Still, she feels the measures pay off. Last winter, the 31-year-old won the overall World Cup, 12 years after making her debut at the top level. Now she and her partner are sticking to the same regime for the upcoming season.

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The story continues below.

Other strict regimes

The German couple is not the only one taking extreme steps at home. Several Norwegian athletes have also introduced challenging routines.

Men’s World Cup winner Sturla Holm Lægreid is known for avoiding people, hugs, and kisses for large parts of the year, and he also prefers not to live with the rest of the team when possible.

Cross-country skier Mattis Stenshagen also isolates himself for weeks at a time, while his partner has to take public transport to and from competitions.

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