Until this past weekend, it would be easy to call Selina Grotian’s 2025/26 season a bust, filled with just a few disappointing competitions and Illness. After regaining her health, Ruhpolding reversed that trend with 26-of-30 shooting and two top 15 finishes that secured her place on Germany’s team for the Milan/Cortina Olympic Winter Games.

Four-time IBU Junior World Championship Gold medalist Grotian is one of the sport’s rising stars. After her 2023 YJWCH success, she jumped into the World Cup circuit, winning an IBU WCH Relay Bronze medal the next season. She followed that by winning last season’s Annecy Le Grand Bornand Mass Start at the youthful age of 20 and finishing 9th in the World Cup Total Score.

A few hours after finishing 15th in the Ruhpolding Pursuit and securing her Olympic ticket, Grotian answered our five burning questions and revealed how she filled her days during last month’s extended illness.

Biathlonworld: This season has been a struggle with illness; how did you manage to stay positive and finally rebound this week?

Selina Grotian: It was a very challenging time for me. I had hoped to make my comeback in Annecy, but after doing some easy cross-country skiing beforehand, I realized that my body simply wasn’t ready yet. That was quite a setback after already dealing with the illness itself. Over the New Year, however, I was finally able to train well again in Seefeld. I was really looking forward to the races in Oberhof, but at the same time, there was the pressure of having to meet the qualifying standard. I honestly didn’t know where I stood. It felt like starting a second season. After Oberhof, the pressure increased even more because I hadn’t managed to achieve the standard there. The days here in Ruhpolding were therefore extremely tough for me, especially from a mental point of view.

BW: How tough was it watching your teammates in December, knowing you should have been there? SG: That was very hard for me. I tried to distance myself from biathlon as much as possible during that time, but of course that’s not easy when you’re constantly confronted with it.

BW: Did the single penalty sprint this week really boost your confidence?

SG: The sprint showed me that my skiing shape is definitely on the right track. In prone shooting, you could clearly feel the pressure, which I also put on myself. Still, I was happy with my race because I can see that my form is gradually improving. I was also very close in the fight for 15th place, and in Ruhpolding the time gaps are always extremely tight. I would have been very disappointed if I had missed it because of the .9 seconds behind Anna Gandler.

BW: What kind of a boost comes from competing in such a friendly atmosphere as Ruhpolding?

SG: The atmosphere in Ruhpolding is always incredibly motivating. However, given my situation this year, it also came with additional pressure. Having to perform right here certainly didn’t make things any easier. You hear the stadium announcer much more clearly than at other World Cups, and naturally my situation and the qualifying standard were mentioned quite often, as he explained it to the spectators.

BW: Now that you have your Olympic ticket, what is that feeling like after such a bumpy road?

SG: Today a huge weight was lifted off my shoulders. The pressure over the past weeks was enormous, and of course, I wanted to show that I truly belonged on this Olympic team. Competing at the Games in Antholz has been a childhood dream of mine; the main goal I’ve been working towards over the last two seasons. After such a difficult start, my aim was to build on the level I showed last season. I know what I’m capable of, but actually delivering isn’t always easy. On top of that, the level of competition in the women’s field has become significantly higher this season.

Biathlonworld Bonus: What did you do during your down time at home besides rest?

SG: I spent time playing games with my family, saw my closest friends and went for walks with my dog, Nala. At the same time, I also tried to isolate myself a bit. Getting sick again at home would have been the worst-case scenario.

With the tough beginning to the season in the rearview mirror and the Olympics now clearly on the horizon, don’t be surprised to see Selina Grotian leave Antholz next month with something shiny around her neck.

Photos: IBU/ Yevenko, Nordic Focus, Selina Grotian