Ready for victory: Dorothea Wierer prepares for her last Olympics

In the history of the biathlon, only you and two other athletes have won in all specialities: which is the most difficult?

Each one has its own specific characteristics and a lot depends on the athlete and his inclination towards one rather than the other. In competitions there are often factors outside the sport, such as the weather, which can have a big influence: that's why I can't say which one is the most difficult, because in reality they all are, each for a different reason.

Biathlon is not such an easy sport to get into: how did you get into it?

In South Tyrol, where I was born and grew up, it has been practised for decades with a very long tradition. It is no coincidence that several champions come from the area of Rasun and Antholz. It was quite automatic for me to approach it, also because there were the facilities to practice it.

Watching your sport, a spectator is fascinated by the fact that after the fatigue of skiing, you manage to keep a cool head for the shot. How do you train this transition? Is it a question of talent or determination?

Biathlon is a truly unique sport that cannot be compared to others. Certainly, talent and determination help a lot, but the mental aspect also plays an important role, especially when you have to find the maximum concentration to try to get away from it all in the shot put.

What is victory for you?  

It is the achievement of a goal for which I have been training for years: it is always a source of great satisfaction. But the joy of victory often wears off quickly, because the competition calendar is so dense that I could win today and not even be on the podium tomorrow. Big events such as the World Championships and Olympic Games, where standing on the podium has a unique meaning that remains in the memory, are a separate matter.

The most important one?

Probably the one at the 2020 World Championships in Antholz, South Tyrol, in front of the home crowd: I won gold in two specialities.

 What are your passions outside your profession?

Sport has absorbed me almost completely in the last 20 years, but I like the world of fashion and design: I recently discovered how stimulating it is to devote oneself to home decoration by researching interior design.

What would you like to do once this sporting chapter is closed?

I would like to dedicate myself more to my family, but if we talk about a new career chapter, I am thinking on several fronts, both in the field of sport, training and study. But also on the possibility of collaborating with companies operating in the world of sport. I have several ideas.

Il cronografo Speedmaster First Omega in Space, con cassa di 39,7 mm di diametro e bracciale in acciaio Movimento

About companies you have a connection with, you are one of the friends of the brand of Omega, the official timekeeper of the Olympics. Being and wearing its watches for me are also an achievement. But not only in terms of sporting achievement, but also in terms of the person I am. That's why I am very proud because the bond with Omega is deep, authentic and I live it every day. Besides, the passing of time is part of our life.