Biathlon: Good news from Franziska Preuß

With the 2025/26 biathlon season fast approaching, Germany’s overall World Cup champion Franziska Preuß has delivered encouraging form following her recent hand injury.

According to Nordic Magazine, Preuß won two internal test races held in Obertilliach, Austria, against international participants. On Wednesday she topped the sprint, hitting 9 of 10 targets, finishing ahead of Austria’s Lisa Hauser and Lidia Zhurauskaite. On Thursday she also won a shortened individual, shooting 18/20, beating Slovakia’s Ema Kapustová by 28.9 seconds and Austria’s Dunja Zdouc by 31 seconds. Data cited from Siwidata noted that Kapustová and Zdouc were clean on the range, but Preuß still prevailed on course speed. In the men’s tests, Campbell Wright (USA) claimed a double victory.

Preuß had suffered a hand injury at the German Championships in early September and underwent surgery, but she was able to resume training within a week and shifted more focus to leg strength during recovery. After last season’s results she is already set for Germany at the World Cup opener in Östersund (Nov 29–Dec 7), alongside Selina Grotian, Vanessa Voigt and Julia Tannheimer. Other athletes, including Janina Hettich‑Walz and Sophia Schneider, are vying for the remaining DSV quota places for the Östersund races.