Franziska Preuss

Franziska Preuss was born on 11 March 1994 in Wasserburg am Inn, Germany. She is a professional biathlete and an invaluable member of the German national team since 23 January 2014. Preuss showed her talent at the 2012 Winter Youth Olympics held in Innsbruck. She claimed medals in all disciplines with a total of 3 gold in the sprint, pursuit, relay and mixed relay and one silver in the pursuit. The following year, 2013 during the Junior World Championships once again Preuss demonstrated her potential. She won 3 medals - one gold with the relay team and 2 bronze in the Individual and pursuit. The European Championships in Bansko were another event from which Franziska claimed 2 medals - one gold in the relay and one silver in the pursuit. Obviously after such achievements, the coaches trusted her and she took part in the Olympic Games in 2014 in Sochi. It's understandable since this was her debut at Winter Olympics, she positioned 41st in the sprint, 40th in the pursuit and 11th in the relay. The 2014-2015 season was a tremendous success for the young biathlete. Not only that Preuss finished 9th in the overall but she achieved a discipline title for the mass start. It was an incredible surprise since Preuss never even one a single race. However, due to her good results and twice 2nd places in Ruhpolding and at the World Championships in Kontiolahti, Franziska Preuss proudly took the small crystal globe for the most prestigious biathlon discipline - the mass start. She made 3rd place in another very dynamic race - the 10 km pursuit in Khanty-Mansyisk that season. As for her performance at the World Championships in Kontiolahti, Preuss claimed 2 medals - a gold in the relay and the silver in the mass start. During the 2015-2016 season Preuss was very consistent. She finished twice at number 5 in the pursuits in Pokljuka and Khanty-Mansyisk. Also 3 times 6th in the sprints in Khanty-Mansyisk and Canmore, and in the pursuit during the World Championships in Holmenkollen. Franziska Preuss won 2 medals at the World Championships in Holmenkollen in 2016 - one silver in the relay and one bronze in the mixed relay. The other results from the races were 14th in the sprint, 6th in the pursuit and 8th in the mass start. She finished 12th in the overall with 533 points. There is no doubt that the future holds a lot of victories, podiums and medals for the young talent, Franziska Preuss.