World Cup Östersund: Setback for German biathlon women as Wierer wins season-opening individual

Dorothea Wierer captured victory in the first women’s individual race of the biathlon World Cup season in Östersund, Sweden. In challenging early‑season conditions, the experienced Italian delivered the most solid combination of skiing and shooting to top the podium.

For Germany, it was a frustrating start. Franziska Preuß, who entered the race as one of the team’s focal points, was unable to contend for the win and finished far behind. The overall German squad also failed to meet expectations in this opening individual, leaving the team searching for answers ahead of the next events in Östersund.

Sportschau’s video recap highlights Wierer’s performance, images from the course, and post‑race reactions, noting the surprise factor of the Italian’s win and Germany’s off day.