Arnd Peiffer: “I always believed that Shipulin is a “pure” athlete. Arnd Peiffer: “I always believed that Shipulin is a “pure” athlete Arnd Peiffer comments

Won two bronze medals at the 2008 Junior World Championships in Ruhpolding, in the sprint and relay race. For the first time he was called up to the German men's team at the World Cup in Oberhof. During training, members of the national team decided to play football, where Arnd Peiffer collided with a member of the German national team, Christoph Stefan, and broke his nose. After which a vacant position arose, which he took. He made his debut on January 8, 2009 at the World Cup in Oberhof as part of the German relay team, which ultimately took 3rd place. This was the team's best result of the season at that time. Largely thanks to this successful performance by Peiffer (he ran in the third stage and passed the baton first), he began to be called the man's answer to Magdalena Neuner, one of the leaders of the German women's team.

Personal biathlon coach - Mark Kirchner. At the same time, Mark Kirchner is an assistant to the head coach of the German men's national team Frank Ullrich and is responsible for working with youth.

general information

He started doing biathlon at the age of 10. He graduated from a sports boarding school in the town of Clausthal-Zellerfeld, Lower Saxony. Then he entered the police school and currently holds the title of candidate for chief of police. Since the academic year 2008/2009, he began studying at the Technical University of Clausthal, majoring in economics and engineering.

Peiffer's World Cup debut in Oberhof was made possible thanks to the support of Sympatec GmbH (System-Partikel-Technik) and personally from CEO Stefan Rothele.

German biathlete, two-time bronze medalist at the 2009 World Championships in the mixed and men's relay.

Won two bronze medals at the 2008 Junior World Championships in Ruhpolding, in the sprint and relay race. For the first time he was called up to the German men's team at the World Cup in Oberhof. During training, members of the national team decided to play football, where Arnd Peiffer collided with a member of the German national team K

Christoph Stefan and broke his nose. After which a vacant position arose, which he took. He made his debut on January 8, 2009 at the World Cup in Oberhof as part of the German relay team, which ultimately took 3rd place. This was the team's best result of the season at that time. In many ways it is good

Thanks to this successful performance of Peiffer (he ran in the third stage and passed the baton first), he began to be called the man's answer to Magdalena Neuner, one of the leaders of the German women's team.

Personal biathlon coach - Mark Kirchner. At the same time, Mark Kirchner is an assistant to the chief trainer.

manager of the German men's team Frank Ullrich and is responsible for working with youth.

general information

He started doing biathlon at the age of 10. He graduated from a sports boarding school in the town of Clausthal-Zellerfeld, Lower Saxony. Then he entered police school and currently holds the rank

candidate for chief of police. Since the academic year 2008/2009, he began studying at the Technical University of Clausthal, majoring in economics and engineering.

Peiffer's debut at the World Cup in Oberhof was made possible thanks to the support of Sympatec GmbH (System-Partikel-Technik) and personally from the CEO

Note: the film was posted on the Internet after the pursuit race at the World Championships.

Note-2: in some places the translation is not literal, it is somewhat shortened, because some things simply didn’t make sense to be included in full. Asterisks indicate a description of what happens in the video

So, let's go!

*shots from the recent victorious sprint in Homenkollen, shouts of the commentator at the finish line, roar of the stands*

Arnd: It’s probably rare that you feel as full of life as when you overcome yourself like this and everything works out for you.

Announcer: bright, cheerful and open, Arnd Peiffer won the World Cup 7 times, and a little over a year ago, as part of the German relay four, he won Olympic silver. And moreover: in 2011 he became the world champion in sprint. *shots from these races*

*program intro, then views of Peiffer’s hometown - Clausthal-Zellerfeld*

Speaker: Clausthal-Zellerfeld, Oberharz. There are many things in Peiffer's hometown that remind him of him. The butcher shop sells hunting sausage "Biathlon" - fresh every day. *a female visitor tries the sausage and says it’s delicious*. The bakery sells a “biathlon bun” for 2 euros. And in the pharmacy (I wonder why there? - Translator’s note) they can measure out the herbal liqueur Clausthaler-Zillwasser (with Arnd on the label) without a prescription.

Well, for Arnd, the decisive moment (literally: the moment to eat sausage - Translator's note) comes constantly.

Arnd: For me, competing is a pleasure, I'm not one of those who live for training, I live for the World Cup. Of course, you are always nervous before a race, but at the same time, it is a great joy to compare yourself with others. I always liked to move, engage in physical activity, I felt like a fish in water in sports. And shooting also gave me pleasure. So I stayed in biathlon.

Announcer: Turns out it was a good idea. It was a direct hit... *then they show a shooting range for children*. And here Arnd practiced so hard. This is a local sports complex. Here we meet children's coach Arnd Peiffer. His name is Frank Spengler, and he is the driving force behind the biathlon movement in northern Germany.

Spengler: I got this position in order to train world-class athletes. Arnd came to me at the age of 9, and it immediately became clear that he would make an excellent skier. Nothing can be said about shooting at that age. However, he quickly achieved some success, and took third place in the overall standings of the German Youth Cup (in the category under 17 years old, and Flori Graf won there) *look at articles from old newspapers, where there is an article about young Arnd and Spengler and photographs from the races - Arnd dissecting in a yellow cap*. Then things went better and better, and finally, Arnd grew into the athlete we all see now (translator's note: the name of Franziska Hildenbrand was also mentioned in the article)

Announcer: In this yellow cap he went to his first competition, and in the yellow cap he trained until he was blue in the face at the biathlon complex in the Clausthal-Zellerfeld mountains... which is now visited by tourists.

*Then a dispute breaks out between the tourist, who thinks that the last name is Arnda Pfeiffer, and common sense in the person of the journalist. Common sense wins out in the end. They say goodbye, the tourists leave, Spengler calls Arnd and asks if everything is okay, and apparently everything is okay. Then the action moves to the German training camp. They show the entrance there, then the athletes returning from training and reporting that the Arnd will also pass soon*

Announcer: Arnd and everyone else are working as hard as they can for the upcoming World Cup. The next day there is a closed training session - no chance to watch.

*discuss with tourists that they might be able to get through the next day in the morning*

Finally, at the athletes' hotel near the camp, we meet Arnd Peiffer.

Arnd: Last year I managed to take 3rd place in the sprint in Kontiolahti. The track suits me well, and it’s usually cold there, which suits me too. Below zero for sure. My favorite temperature is from minus 5 to minus 10, and in general anything below zero suits me.

Announcer: And now we are moving many kilometers from here, to northern Finland, to the World Championships in Kontiolahti. It's loud and uncomfortable here. A strong wind is blowing, one of the best athletes in the world fell out of the blue (we are talking about Svensen’s fall in the World Cup sprint), and an athlete from Iceland was forced to withdraw from the race. Well, due to incorrect graphics, Arnd Peiffer suddenly became Eric Lesser. And yesterday it was, of course, very warm for the frost lover Peiffer.

Arnd: yes, yesterday it was too warm, but the main difficulty was not that, but the shooting conditions

Announcer: And due to the strong wind there are many misses. Arnd Peiffer stands shooting... stands... stands... as a result, two misses, three in total. And in the end - 30th place at the finish line.

Arnd: In any case, it was a difficult race.

Announcer: The next day was already easier - 14th place in the pursuit and genuine joy for Eric Lesser, who became the world champion for the first time. In fact, for Arnd this year the very fact that he made it to the World Championship means a lot...

12 days before this is the day of pause in preparation for the World Cup. Everything is calm in the hotel for athletes *shows Arnd’s room*. Arnd is now with his friend, and part-time teammate and competitor, Daniel Boehm. He, like Arnd, grew up in Clausthal-Zellerfeld.

Arnd: We spend a lot of time together: we train in the same group in Oberhof and rent an apartment together there.

Journalist: does this suit you?

Daniel: well, yes, otherwise we would have killed each other a long time ago. And this is how we understand when, for example, someone needs to leave to take a break from each other.

Announcer: They climbed to the top together. They have a similar technique, the same shape…. And another one helps another in difficult times.

At the beginning of this season, things start to go wrong for Arnd. Two consecutive 64th places in the sprint. Participation in the World Championship is in doubt.

Arnd: There are days when nothing works out at shooting. You need to be relaxed inside. I succeeded only in Ruhpolding - and the result came even though the conditions were not entirely suitable: soft track, above-zero temperature...

Announcer:... and also because I have a friend Daniel... So, Ruhpolding, sprint. Daniel Böhm will start very far away - number 97, in the 4th starting group. In fact, he should have started in much more favorable conditions, but he lost his second starting group to his friend Arnd Peiffer.

Arnd: It's hard to show something when you're under so much pressure and you could be sent home any minute. I am very grateful to Daniel for giving me the second starting group, although he was absolutely not obliged to do this.

Daniel Boehm: well, I just noticed that Arnd was burdened by not completing the qualifications, and meanwhile the championship was very soon, and I thought: why not? And I'm glad it helped him

*shots of Arnd's finish in that sprint*

Arnd: of course it was great to be back on top

Announcer: So, the guys from Harz have achieved a lot in biathlon. And at the origins of this is Frank Spengler, who raised biathlon in this region to its feet.

*on the screen is the old biathlon complex. Spengler shows that here they used to shoot, and here they ran. Then the children call their names, following, as the announcer put it, in the footsteps of Arnd Peiffer. They all say that it was Arnd who inspired them to take up biathlon*

Arnd: It’s also nice when you can inspire someone and show by example that it’s quite possible to achieve something by starting your journey here in the Harz. Some of our athletes have some success, which is encouraging

Announcer *under footage of training*: the children are still running around without rifles. It's still too hard. They hang opposite the firing line. And just like these schoolchildren, Arnd Peiffer once started. Shot by shot, he advanced further in the sport. And in life too.

Arnd: I think sports have been good for me. As a child I was very timid and secretive and through training I learned to be social because I was always training with a lot of other kids. And later I began to go to competitions, and was away from my family for a long time, and so a person also changes.

Children chant: Arnd Peiffer, Arnd Peiffer!

Announcer: So, Arnd has become a top athlete, but only on snow, but if we talk about football...

Arnd *laughs*: yeah, I'm not much of a football player. We often play football in training or organize charity matches, and I play in defence. Yes, I can more or less delay the attackers, but creativity in attack, dribbling or anything else is not for me.

Announcer: But Arnd also had to quickly adapt. Six years ago, Oberhof made a surprise World Cup debut. Arnd Peiffer must replace Christoph Stefan in the relay - all because of a collision at football training and the latter's broken nose.

Arnd: well, it happened that his nose hit mine, and I don’t know exactly how it happened, but apparently my head is stronger. In general, his nose was broken, and that’s how I qualified for the World Cup (this is what I understand, selection for the World Cup, and not stupid criteria! - Translator’s note)

*footage from that race*

Announcer: the first firing line - and the unerring shooting of the twenty-one-year-old debutant. This is how an unknown boy from the Harz breaks into the world elite.

Commentators *under Peiffer's second shooting*: I can't believe it, I can't believe it! What is happening! Flawless shooting in the debut race!

*Arnd runs away from Yaroshenko at the finish line, commentators are shocked, Ulrich is shocked, the audience is delighted*

Arnd: I immediately noticed how loud the audience was screaming. When shooting, you always hear their shouts. I used to run at the IBU, and there you run well - silence, if you run poorly - silence, and about 10 spectators on a good day. And I couldn’t get used to what was happening at the World Cup. Emotions were just over the edge.

Announcer: Always a good skier, Peiffer is constantly working on his shooting - in his hotel room. Long exercises, a 3.9 kilo rifle... And then a meeting on the podium with not just anyone, but Ole Einer Bjoerndalen. Just 11 weeks after his debut, Peiffer won his first race, the sprint in Khanty-Mansiysk.

*Then Arnd shows how he pulls off the rifle while simultaneously opening the bolt. Afterwards there are shots of the relay race in Sochi. Arnd then teaches the journalist how to hold the rifle while shooting from a standing position. He doesn’t succeed, Arnd laughs, and when the journalist also imagines that this is all with an increased heart rate, he says: respect!”

Arnd: People think shooting at 120 is a nightmare. But for me, shooting with a heart rate of 150 is normal.

Announcer: So, Frank Spengler gradually brought talent to the top. And he advises Peiffer now, even when he trains in Oberhof

Arnd: He is behind the success of almost everyone who came from the Harz. And helped the children adapt. After all, to reach the world level, two or three training sessions a week are not enough; you also have to skip school. Without him, this would not have been possible.

Announcer: Spengler and Peiffer - this was the tandem at Clausthal Zellerfeld. And there people gather together to root for him. He also has an official fan club.

Arnd: It's something special for me that people come to cheer me on the World Cup stages, often far away and often in bad weather.

*show the fan club cheering for him - in red jackets*

Announcer: And this support helps. And especially when it comes to Khanty-Mansiysk.

Spengler: Khanty-Mansiysk suits Arnd well. The cold suits him, and, most importantly, the track. And it was there that personal success came to him for the first time. And there he won gold medals at the World Championships

*shots from the sprint at the 2011 World Cup, everyone congratulates Arnd after the race*

Arnd (interview after the winning sprint): This race suits me well. 10 kilometers, two shooting sessions - all this was especially for me. And I’m glad that everything worked out for me, to be honest, I can’t believe it.

Spengler about Arnd: he is ambitious, reliable, firmly on the ground.

Announcer: We should also focus on Arnd’s creativity outside the track. He often films videos and posts them on his website. Cry! And let's go

*video from his website*

Arnd: yes, of course, it was blurry, but it was funny, and this is a story about our life

*still stills from video*

Announcer: and here is one of the iconic moments. This terrible Swedish fish - the "appetizing" surströmming - must be eaten by every new member of the German biathlon team. This is a ritual.

Arnd: well, yes, I decided to try it, it was interesting. This seems to be the principle, and this happens to all beginners. We got the fish in the supermarket; it is sold there in cans. The jar is deep enough that you need to eat everything. It smells like... um... The smell was the most terrible thing, I smelled it for another three days. This came with schnapps, but that’s probably why I don’t like fish. Perhaps it was also a challenge to put myself on the team. True, this was just the beginning.

Arnd: As a person I am quite confident in myself. I also have a fairly flexible character, which has helped me in sports. Without flexibility you can break

Sports career

For the first time, Peiffer was called up from the German youth team to the main team for the 4th stage of the 2008/09 World Cup, held in Oberhof, Germany. Arnd's debut took place on January 8, 2009 as part of the German relay team, which ultimately took 2nd place. Largely thanks to this successful performance of Peiffer, who confidently passed the third stage, he began to be called the male answer to Magdalena Neuner, one of the leaders of the German women's team.

In the same year, Peiffer made his debut at the World Championships, where, despite not being included in the entry in any individual race, he won two bronze medals as part of the relay teams. Season 2008/2009 Peiffer also brought his first individual victory at the World Cup stage - in Khanty-Mansiysk he had no equal in the sprint.

Excerpt characterizing Peiffer, Arnd

Seven years have passed since the 12th year. The troubled historical sea of ​​Europe has settled into its shores. It seemed quiet; but the mysterious forces that move humanity (mysterious because the laws determining their movement are unknown to us) continued to operate.
Despite the fact that the surface of the historical sea seemed motionless, humanity moved as continuously as the movement of time. Various groups of human connections formed and disintegrated; the reasons for the formation and disintegration of states and the movements of peoples were prepared.
The historical sea, not as before, was directed by gusts from one shore to another: it seethed in the depths. Historical figures, not as before, rushed in waves from one shore to another; now they seemed to be spinning in one place. Historical figures, who previously at the head of the troops reflected the movement of the masses with orders of wars, campaigns, battles, now reflected the seething movement with political and diplomatic considerations, laws, treatises...
Historians call this activity of historical figures reaction.
Describing the activities of these historical figures, who, in their opinion, were the cause of what they call the reaction, historians strictly condemn them. All famous people of that time, from Alexander and Napoleon to m me Stael, Photius, Schelling, Fichte, Chateaubriand, etc., are subject to their strict judgment and are acquitted or condemned, depending on whether they contributed to progress or reaction.
In Russia, according to their description, a reaction also took place during this period of time, and the main culprit of this reaction was Alexander I - the same Alexander I who, according to their descriptions, was the main culprit of the liberal initiatives of his reign and the salvation of Russia.
In real Russian literature, from a high school student to a learned historian, there is not a person who would not throw his own pebble at Alexander I for his wrong actions during this period of his reign.
“He should have done this and that. In this case he acted well, in this case he acted badly. He behaved well at the beginning of his reign and during the 12th year; but he acted badly by giving a constitution to Poland, making the Holy Alliance, giving power to Arakcheev, encouraging Golitsyn and mysticism, then encouraging Shishkov and Photius. He did something wrong by being involved in the front part of the army; he acted badly by distributing the Semyonovsky regiment, etc.”
It would be necessary to fill ten pages in order to list all the reproaches that historians make to him on the basis of the knowledge of the good of humanity that they possess.
What do these reproaches mean?
The very actions for which historians approve of Alexander I, such as: the liberal initiatives of his reign, the fight against Napoleon, the firmness he showed in the 12th year, and the campaign of the 13th year, do not stem from the same sources - the conditions of blood , education, life, which made Alexander’s personality what it was - from which flow those actions for which historians blame him, such as: the Holy Alliance, the restoration of Poland, the reaction of the 20s?
What is the essence of these reproaches?
The fact that such a historical person as Alexander I, a person who stood at the highest possible level of human power, is, as it were, in the focus of the blinding light of all the historical rays concentrated on him; a person subject to those strongest influences in the world of intrigue, deception, flattery, self-delusion, which are inseparable from power; a face that felt, every minute of its life, responsibility for everything that happened in Europe, and a face that is not fictitious, but living, like every person, with its own personal habits, passions, aspirations for goodness, beauty, truth - that this face , fifty years ago, not only was he not virtuous (historians do not blame him for this), but he did not have those views for the good of humanity that a professor now has, who has been engaged in science from a young age, that is, reading books, lectures and copying these books and lectures in one notebook.
But even if we assume that Alexander I fifty years ago was mistaken in his view of what is the good of peoples, we must involuntarily assume that the historian judging Alexander, in the same way, after some time will turn out to be unjust in his view of that , which is the good of humanity. This assumption is all the more natural and necessary because, following the development of history, we see that every year, with every new writer, the view of what is the good of humanity changes; so that what seemed good appears after ten years as evil; and vice versa. Moreover, at the same time we find in history completely opposite views on what was evil and what was good: some take credit for the constitution given to Poland and the Holy Alliance, others as a reproach to Alexander.
It cannot be said about the activities of Alexander and Napoleon that they were useful or harmful, because we cannot say for what they are useful and for what they are harmful. If someone does not like this activity, then he does not like it only because it does not coincide with his limited understanding of what is good. Does it seem good to me to preserve my father’s house in Moscow in 12, or the glory of the Russian troops, or the prosperity of St. Petersburg and other universities, or the freedom of Poland, or the power of Russia, or the balance of Europe, or a certain kind of European enlightenment - progress, I must admit that the activity of every historical figure had, in addition to these goals, other, more general goals that were inaccessible to me.
But let us assume that so-called science has the ability to reconcile all contradictions and has an unchanging measure of good and bad for historical persons and events.
Let's assume that Alexander could have done everything differently. Let us assume that he could, according to the instructions of those who accuse him, those who profess knowledge of the ultimate goal of the movement of mankind, order according to the program of nationality, freedom, equality and progress (there seems to be no other) that his current accusers would have given him. Let us assume that this program was possible and drawn up and that Alexander would act according to it. What would then happen to the activities of all those people who opposed the then direction of the government - with activities that, according to historians, were good and useful? This activity would not exist; there would be no life; nothing would have happened.
If we assume that human life can be controlled by reason, then the possibility of life will be destroyed.

If we assume, as historians do, that great people lead humanity to achieve certain goals, which consist either in the greatness of Russia or France, or in the balance of Europe, or in spreading the ideas of revolution, or in general progress, or whatever it may be, it is impossible to explain the phenomena of history without the concepts of chance and genius.
If the goal of the European wars at the beginning of this century was the greatness of Russia, then this goal could be achieved without all the previous wars and without an invasion. If the goal is the greatness of France, then this goal could be achieved without revolution and without empire. If the goal is the dissemination of ideas, then printing would accomplish this much better than soldiers. If the goal is the progress of civilization, then it is very easy to assume that, besides the extermination of people and their wealth, there are other more expedient ways for the spread of civilization.
Why did it happen this way and not otherwise?
Because that's how it happened. “Chance made the situation; genius took advantage of it,” says history.

Biathlete Arnd Peiffer burst into world sports like a bright meteor. For the first time, he was called up from the German youth team to the main team for the fourth stage of the World Cup - 2008/09. Arnd's debut took place on January 8, 2009 as part of the German relay team. The newcomer did not disappoint, he confidently passed the third stage, and the Germans took second place. After that, he began to be called “the man’s answer to Magdalena Neuner,” one of the leaders of the German women’s team. In the same year, Peiffer made his debut at the World Championships, where he won two bronze medals as part of the relay teams. The 2008/09 season brought Peiffer his first individual victory at the World Cup stage - in Khanty-Mansiysk he had no equal in the sprint. And then there was victory at the 2011 World Championships.

Arnd Peiffer spoke about his life and plans for the future in an interview with an Echo of the Planet correspondent.

- Arnd, in the last two years you have made the entire biathlon world talk about you. How did you do it?

- There are no secrets here. I just work constantly and very hard in training and, it seems to me, I have already achieved something. If you don't train, you won't achieve anything good.

- Have you dreamed of doing biathlon since childhood?

- Yes, that was my biggest dream. You could say that I literally dreamed of skis and a rifle. And I really wanted to compete, win and climb to the top step of the podium. I’m probably overly ambitious, but I’ve always wanted sports fame. I have been involved in biathlon since I was ten years old, I graduated from a sports school in Lower Saxony.

- Is it true that after that you entered the police school?

- Yes, you were not mistaken. Now I hold the title of candidate chief of police. In addition, I am still studying at the Technical University of Clausthal, majoring in economic engineering. So after finishing my sports career I will have something to do. But for now my life is biathlon. I love this sport.

- Why did you choose biathlon, and not football, basketball or, say, hockey? After all, these are the most popular sports in the world.

- I can’t agree with you. Biathlon is very popular. Live broadcasts from the stages of the Cup or World Cup attract no less a television audience than the World Football Championships. For example, I felt very popular when they started taking my autographs on the streets of different cities. To be honest, I was amazed. I always thought that biathletes are quite difficult to recognize in everyday life. After all, during competitions we wear hats and very often glasses. But, apparently, for true connoisseurs of our sport and fans of a particular biathlete, such “disguise” is by no means a hindrance.

- What do you consider your main achievement in biathlon at the moment?

- There’s nothing to think about here! Of course, first place in the sprint at the 2011 World Championships, which took place in Khanty-Mansiysk. It seemed to me that not many fans and experts were counting on my victory. In any case, in Germany it became a real sensation. But I don’t see anything surprising in my victory. My work in training and focus on results brought me a gold medal. Now it hangs in my house in a place of honor.

- When can we expect you to win the overall World Cup?

This is something we need to seriously work on. You see, in recent years, competition in world biathlon has become very intense. Many young and ambitious athletes have appeared, of which I include myself. But the honored veterans are not going to give up professional sports. Look what the Norwegian Ole Einar Bjoerndalen sometimes does at a distance! The man is already over forty years old, and he is still in excellent physical and functional shape. It is precisely because of the clash of generations that competition in biathlon is high, like in no other sport. Therefore, my victory in the overall World Cup standings may not happen in the coming years. However, if I’m lucky at some key distances, then next year I can aim for this trophy. Although, as I said, this will be extremely difficult to do.

- You speak so enthusiastically about Bjoerndalen. Is this your idol in biathlon?

There are many great athletes in our sport. But it was Ole Einar who always stood out even among the best and most deserved. He is selflessly devoted to biathlon, and in this regard I really want to be like him.

- What can you say about Russian biathletes?

- Your team has some strong guys. But they often lack accuracy in shooting. And if you didn’t hit three or four targets out of twenty, then counting on a place on the podium is, to say the least, not serious. My compatriot Wolfgang Pichler is now working with the Russian women's national team. It seems to me that he has his own recipes for victory, you will feel it very soon. In any case, already this season your biathletes have won a number of outstanding victories. In addition, Pichler often attracts young athletes to the teams he coaches. And this also gives very good results.

- Arnd, what are your plans for the coming years?

- I won’t say anything new - everything is pretty standard. I need to consolidate my authority in the biathlon world. And this can only be done with the help of resounding victories. So I will work in this direction. The most important thing is to believe in yourself, to understand that sooner or later everything will work out.

- It’s probably better if everything works out early...

- I agree one hundred percent! However, it also happens that a person fights, but nothing works out for him. And then, when the time comes to end his professional career, victories begin to come to the athlete. That is, he finally receives everything that he could have won in his youth. But I would prefer the option when fame and big victories come in youth.

- I can’t help but ask about the 2014 Olympics in Sochi. What do you expect from her?

- I will answer with a standard phrase: I will fight for victory. Olympic gold is the cherished dream of every athlete, and I am no exception.

- What sports, besides biathlon, are you interested in?

- Like every German, I love football very much. I remember as a child I knew the names of all the players on the German national team. They were my real idols. What names there were! Jurgen Klinsmann, Lothar Matthäus, Rudi Völler... However, the current German team is also very strong. Bastian Schweinsteiger alone is worth something! I think that our team will become the winner of the European Championship 2012.

- But in addition to the German team, there is also a Spanish team. Don't you think she also has a chance to win?

- I speak as an ordinary fan. I just believe in the German team, that’s all. The Spaniards became world champions in 2010, so let them now let us become European champions.

- It seems that football is really your favorite sport. Who do you support at the club level?

- For Bayern. And even though my favorite team is not doing well right now, even though there is a generational change taking place there, I believe that in the near future Bayern will regain some of their lost positions in club football.

- You talk about football with such love. And I read somewhere that you watch Formula 1 car racing competitions with even greater interest.

Yes, I love Formula 1. Probably because my compatriot Michael Schumacher became the strongest seven times. But seriously, I love auto racing for its dynamism and unpredictability. You can be in the lead for almost the entire race, and then you make a stupid mistake and don't even make it into the top ten. In this respect, Formula 1 has a lot in common with biathlon.

- What kind of cars do you drive?

- As a patriot of my country, I prefer German car brands. For example, Mercedes-Benz, BMW. They are reliable, you can go on a long trip on them and not worry about them breaking. But if the object I need is four or five kilometers away, then I’d rather walk. Walking and breathing fresh air is very beneficial.

- Are you married?

- Not yet. But I hope to correct this omission over the next two to three years.