Olympia 2018:”Everything is possible”: speculations about Dahlmeier’s future

Another season? Another Olympics? Or an end already in summer? Nobody knows if and how long Laura Dahlmeier will continue her career. In Pyeongchang the answers of the double Olympic champion left room for speculation.

Whoever experienced Laura Dahlmeier in the days of Pyeongchang had to fear her farewell from the big stage. The 24-year-old smiled defeats without worrying, celebrated after her last race deep into the night and even managed the final interview marathon in a good mood. Things that seem to be normal – in the career of the double Olympic champion so far, however, could never be reconciled with the greed for ultimate success.

Now, however, Dahlmeier called the moments in South Korea up, she even felt good about it, her conscience remained silent. When she then left the question of the future “completely open” and said that “anything is possible”, this only aroused the impression: Dahlmeier will not experience the Olympic Games in Beijing in 2022 as a biathlete.

The ideal bracket, if you like, could have been set by the German Olympic Sports Federation (DOSB) by appointing Dahlmeier as flag bearer for the closing ceremony. However, Christian Ehrhoff (ice hockey) was chosen, and Dahlmeier will have to cope with it.

After returning to Germany with Lufthansa’s winner, however, after the exciting days of Pyeongchang, she will once again be able to look for and enjoy her beloved seclusion. At the family in Partenkirchen and in the mountains, the Bavarian charges the batteries for the season’s finale, which will be marked by the World Cup in Kontiolahti (8th place in the World Cup). till 11. March) and started with the races in Tyumen (22nd place). till 25. March) is ended.

“I want to focus again on the World Cups,”Dahlmeier assured credibly when she was asked about the next steps in South Korea. Afterwards, she will think calmly and sit down together with the” responsible persons “to discuss everything else:” The outcome is completely open.

Magdalena Neuner, who ended her career as a star of the scene at the age of only 25 years, could understand a similar decision by Dahlmeier:”It is not easy to find the motivation after such a gigantic event as Olympia,”said Neuner to the SID. After the games in Vancouver, she herself had convinced the home World Championships in Ruhpolding to continue – but there will not be any for Dahlmeier.

Next year’s World Cup will take place in the rather secluded and quiet Östersund/Sweden, followed by atmospheric title fights in Antholz/Italy in 2020, which Dahlmeier had always described as her favourite place. Perhaps a farewell afterwards would be a golden middle way, with which Dahlmeier could become acquainted. But for the sake of victory alone, she will certainly not do so.

“A first goal was to get into the World Cup. At some point I wanted to win the overall World Cup and a gold medal at the World Championships,”said Dahlmeier about wishes she had long since fulfilled,”and the biggest goal,”she continued,”was the Olympic victory. You wonder what you want to achieve.”

Dahlmeier will do so sooner or later – but pretty sure before 2022.