Dorothea Wierer was back in the biathlon world last weekend during the Loop One Festival in Munich. The Olympic medallist and World Champion did not compete on the floating range in the Olympiapark, but instead took on a new challenge as a commentator for German TV channel ARD. We caught up with her at the end of the competitions to try and get some impressions and tips on how to read the results of the weekend.

Illness forced Wierer to skip the inaugural edition last autumn so this was her first time experiencing the biathlon opening festival, enjoying the atmosphere while also analysing the results of her former teammates and rivals. This is how she saw it.

BiathlonWorld: Doro, it was great to see you already back in biathlon, after your retirement last winter. How did this first experience as a commentator go? And how did you find the Loop One Festival?

Dorothea Wierer: It was a really great experience for me; I have learnt a lot about things you don’t see when you are an athlete. I was impressed, for example, by how many people work behind the scenes to bring the best possible pictures from an event like this one! So, working alongside such high-level professionals is very stimulating and motivates me to keep improving.

I was really curious to experience this event besides the biathlon races. When you are an athlete, you are so focused on yourself and your performance that it’s impossible to pay attention to what’s around. I have to admit I found this to be a super-cool concept and even if we have not been so lucky with the weather, the atmosphere was superb, with so many passionate fans even on a summer event.

BW: What do you make of the sports results? How can you draw some impressions from the performances of the athletes who competed during the weekend?

DW: I think there were many interesting things on the sports side. I was pleased to see the usual Lisa (Vittozzi), very strong and showing that the form is there, but also Luki (Lukas Hofer) confirmed that he is feeling well and that his motivation is strong.

These formats always provide surprises and it is very difficult to draw conclusions, since everyone arrives here from different situations: some straight from a high-altitude camp, some from a rest week… so, only athletes and coaches can find a clear reading of the results based on a personal evaluation. This makes it even more difficult to be a commentator!

BW: If you were still an athlete, what would you be reading from your performance in an event like the Loop One Festival? Despite what you just said, winter is not far ahead, and an athlete can take something away from a good or a bad performance on this weekend…

DW: You cannot really compare such events with a World Cup weekend, because the track profile is nothing like the ones you would find in winter and obviously you race on roller skis, and that makes a big difference. However, if you come out of Munich with a good result you have an important confirmation that your work this summer has been good, and you have the shape to carry into winter. If, on the other hand, your performance did not match your expectations, you might have a few questions to answer over the coming weeks.

That said, you have to be careful when drawing your own conclusions, because, as I said, it’s an event in which everyone comes from a different situation and these formats, with shorter penalty loops, favour fast and aggressive shooters. And with no world cup points at stake, you know there’s less to lose.

BW: One last thing, last season, you sadly had to withdraw just before the event, so this was your first time at the Loop One Festival. So, what do you make of this new opening event in the biathlon season?

DW: It was a shame that I could not be here last season. Sadly, I was not feeling well, and I had to withdraw at the last minute. But coming here this year left me with a really good impression. I know not all athletes love such events, because you obviously need to find the time between training, fly in and if things don’t go well, it’s all for some 15 minutes of race-time on a weekend.

But I think most were happy with the organization, and I think the track is gorgeous, the stadium is really beautiful and I could see so many happy fans. I think for them it’s a great chance to see athletes from so close, meet them for autographs and photos, so I hope it will grow even more in the coming years. For sure, for many it is a bit weird to see biathlon being raced on something other than snow, but it’s fun, nonetheless.

Photos: Manzoni/IBU