Flunger on Hauser: “We’ll still talk about this victory in 20 years”

Austrian biathlete Lisa Hauser wrote history with her pursuit victory at the World Cup in Östersund, Sweden. After the race, she embraced her Salzburg coach Sandra Flunger, with whom she has worked closely since her youth.

Hauser, a former world champion, said that winning a pursuit had been a major goal, and she was moved after reeling in Finland’s Suvi Minkkinen on the final loop. With this win, Hauser now has at least one World Cup victory in all four individual biathlon formats.

Following the triumph, the 32-year-old thanked her long-time Salzburg mentors Alfred Eder and Sandra Flunger. Hauser prepared again this season with the Swiss team, where Flunger serves as head coach for both women and men, maintaining their close connection from Hauser’s early years.

Flunger lauded the performance as ‘perfect’ and described the emotions before the flower ceremony when Hauser hugged her with tears in her eyes. She noted the past years had been far from easy, mentally and health-wise, making this return to the top particularly meaningful. “If we meet for coffee in 20 years, we’ll still be talking about this race,” Flunger joked.

Looking ahead, Flunger is excited for the upcoming home World Cup in Hochfilzen, though she quipped about the lack of snow upon returning home to Saalfelden.