Biathlon in Soldier Hollow – When the excursion ends in the Interlaken region – Sports

Schweitzer (2002) is the only supporting cast

In terms of sports, the games of that time left less lasting impressions on Simin. “For me, the motto was 'Be there.' He's everything.” The 64th and 67th places in the individual competitions did not necessarily spark biathlon euphoria in Switzerland 22 years ago, especially since Semien's teammates Roland Zvahlen, Jean-Marc Chabloz and Danny Niederberger had achieved similarly poor results.

This sport is now much better in Switzerland, also due to its recent successes. Lena Hakke-Gross claimed her second World Cup win last weekend in Oslo.

The enthusiasm is there, but it's actually very local.

However, in the USA, no lasting enthusiasm for biathlon has developed since the Olympics. Perhaps the return of the World Cup after a five-year absence will not change this situation in the short term. “The enthusiasm is there, but it's actually very local,” Simien says. It is doubtful that the global federation will be able to gain a foothold outside Europe with its attack. At the end of the World Cup season, there will also be races in Canmore, Canada, within a week.

Soldier Hollow is likely to be a challenge for athletes due to its location at approximately 1,700 metres. “This is very difficult because a cubic meter of air contains less oxygen,” Simien says. There is little time left to adapt after the Oslo competitions. “You don't have any chance to get used to the altitude.”