World Sport News

Even without the seven-time biathlon world champion Laura Dahlmeier, the German single-mixed relay team made it onto the podium in the first race of the Olympic season. Vanessa Hinz and Erik Lesser finished second in the World Cup season opener in Östersund, Sweden, despite nine reloaders.

The victory in the non-Olympic discipline went to Austria (two reloaders) and the duo from Kazakhstan (five reloaders) took third place surprisingly.

In addition to Lesser, Dahlmeier was actually scheduled for the race. The 24-year-old, however, caught an infection at the training camp in Sjusjoen, and will therefore also refrain from competing in the individual races starting on Wednesday in Östersund.

Dahlmeier’s representative Hinz completed her task with a few small wobblers, and the relay world champion needed a total of four spare cartridges for four shooting inserts. Lesser had to recharge five times and finally reached the finish 16.5 seconds after the Austrian Simon Eder.