Cross-country skier Hennig Dotzler shows resilience under pressure

Germany’s cross-country team answered a difficult buildup with a strong collective showing at the World Cup opener in Ruka (Kuusamo). With Victoria Carl suspended following a positive doping test and now confirmed to miss the Olympic Winter Games, the pressure shifted squarely onto Katharina Hennig Dotzler as the team’s standard-bearer.

In the women’s 10 km individual race, Hennig Dotzler finished as the top German in 12th place, with teammates Pia Fink and Katherine Sauerbrey close behind in 13th and 14th. Under Germany’s selection policy, two finishes inside the top 15 are required; all three athletes now have half of that criterion completed at the first opportunity.

Hennig Dotzler’s performance was especially notable given a recent extended illness that kept her out for about a month and limited training. She said Ruka was meant to help her "get back into race shape" and was delighted to be so close to top form so early: “Today was a big step in the right direction—the half-qualifier already eases the pressure.”

Sporting director Peter Schlickenrieder expressed defiance and optimism on ARD: “We’re coming back and we’ll hit back,” praising the team’s resilience after a turbulent period. He added that Carl had “come clean to free the team from speculation,” allowing her teammates to fully focus on chasing their Olympic goals.

Looking ahead, the Germans intend to build on this momentum in Sunday’s 20 km mass start. Hennig Dotzler acknowledged she still needs race rhythm after her layoff but has shown she can handle the spotlight and the pressure.

Context: Hennig Dotzler won Olympic team sprint gold in 2022 alongside Victoria Carl, and silver in the relay with Carl, Sofie Krehl, and Katherine Sauerbrey. With Carl now out, Germany will seek new lineups to contend in Trondheim 2025 season races and towards the 2026 Olympic cycle.