Biathlon: German national coach Hönig:”Dahlmeier’s exaggerated criticism is not good”.

Biathlon national coach Gerald Hönig has criticised an exaggerated expectation of his top runner Laura Dahlmeier. As Hönig told Munich’s Merkur, he could not understand why the last results of the seven-time world champion were treated so derogatory. This excessive criticism doesn’t do Laura any good.”

Dahlmeier (Partenkirchen) had already failed twice this season with infections and had rejoined the World Cup in Oberhof with places seven and 13 in sprint and pursuit.

“One mustn’t forget that five days before Oberhof it wasn’t even clear whether Laura would be able to participate at all. But then she gets up from her sickbed, runs the races weakened and is able to make it into the top-15 straight away,”said Hönig:”It also shows the special feature of an athlete when she can attack to the top of the world straight away after an illness.”

Also with regard to the Olympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang (9. till 25. February) Hönig warned of too great expectations for last year’s five-time world champion:”It would be very presumptuous to believe that Pyeongchang will once again win five gold medals,”said the 59-year-old. Competitors such as Anastasiya Kuzmina (Slovakia) or Kaisa Mäkäräinen (Finland) would have the advantage over Dahlmeier “that they are not quite so exposed to pressure and expectations”.

The upcoming races in Ruhpolding (11. till 14. January) and Antholz/Italy (18. till 21. January) Hönig would like to use it in order to “force the sportswoman of the year to build up her form”. At the same time, it is “important to dose the inserts in such a way that they are no longer susceptible to infections. If we succeed, Laura will be able to compete for the medals in every race at the Olympic Games.