Biathlon in Hochfilzen: Germany hopes Preuß and Grotian are fit; two roster changes announced

German biathlon officials are hopeful that Franziska Preuß and Selina Grotian will recover in time to compete at the upcoming World Cup in Hochfilzen, Austria, which begins on Friday, 12 December 2025. Biathlon sport director Felix Bitterling said both athletes, who recently fell ill, are provisionally included in the roster but will only start if fully fit.

Preuß has been dealing with a COVID-19 and influenza infection, while Grotian has also been sick. “We hope to get both fit for Hochfilzen … but we won’t take any risks given what’s ahead this winter,” Bitterling noted, pointing to the Olympic Games in February. A final decision on their participation is expected within the next one to two days.

Two roster changes were confirmed: David Zobel and Julia Kink are promoted from the IBU Cup to the World Cup team, replacing Lucas Fratzscher and Marlene Fichtner. Zobel recently finished third in the sprint in Obertilliach, the best result of his IBU Cup weekend, while Kink recorded two ninth places. Fratzscher missed the pursuit in Östersund after placing 64th in the sprint; Fichtner placed 48th in the sprint and 44th in the pursuit.

Germany will travel to Hochfilzen with six men and seven women. The men’s team: Justus Strelow, Philipp Nawrath, Philipp Horn, David Riethmüller, Simon Kaiser and David Zobel. The women’s team (provisionally): Franziska Preuß, Selina Grotian, Vanessa Voigt, Janina Hettich-Walz, Julia Tannheimer, Anna Weidel and Julia Kink.

At the Östersund World Cup opener, Germany missed the podium. The best individual results were two eighth places: Julia Tannheimer in the women’s sprint and Philipp Horn in the men’s individual. Preuß, last season’s overall World Cup winner, was limited by illness—29th in the individual and she then skipped the sprint and pursuit—while Grotian also withdrew from the pursuit after finishing 30th in the sprint.