Julia Tannheimer is part of a new generation of talented biathletes destined to be stars in the years leading up to Alpes 2030. Next weekend, she will kick off the season at the Loop One Festival in Munich.

At just 21 years old, Tannheimer is just weeks away from starting her third full World Cup campaign. Although still looking for her first individual World Cup podium, the young German’s resume includes a Youth Olympic Games Gold medal, 4 IBU YJWCH Gold medals, an IBU Cup win, and a World Cup Relay win at Hochfilzen in 2024.

Last season she qualified for her first Olympic Winter Games, running leadoff for Germany and tagging second, just five seconds behind Sweden.

Yesterday, after a chilly morning training session at Ramsau, Tannheimer talked about her Monday routine, revealing an unusual hidden talent, and the importance of having fun.

Biathlonworld: What time do you wake up on Mondays and what is the first thing you do after waking up?

Julia Tannheimer: On a normal Monday, I wake up at 7 o’clock, take out my night lenses so I can see, then eat breakfast. BW: What is the first app you look at when you turn on your phone?

JT: The Oura App so I can see my statistics from the night.

BW: What makes your breakfast perfect?

JT: I think the perfect breakfast is when I do not have to eat porridge, because I eat it before every training. I eat bread with eggs and avocado. That is a good breakfast.

BW: Coffee or tea?

JT: Tea. Every kind, I like to rotate.

BW: Does your early morning regime include a run or mental preparation for the day?

JT: No, I try to sleep as long as possible. When I am at home, it is stressful in the morning because I only have about 45 minutes to get ready. I would rather be sleeping.

BW: Is your backpack ready to go every day?

JT: Before intervals, I pack it the night before, but on a normal day, I do it in the morning.

BW: Do you consider yourself a perfectionist when it comes to training?

JT: Yes, you have to be kind of a perfectionist to compete at this level. When I train, I try to make it count. I really hate trainings when I am not feeling good and can’t do what I want to do. I always try to make my trainings as good as can be.

BW: What are your thoughts when you miss that last shot in training?

JT: I hate it! I’m like, “If you cannot even do it in training, how do you expect to do it in a race?” I try to do well in training, so I have confidence in the competitions.

BW: What do you do when the day is over to wind down?

JT: Not so much; I am a couch potato. I like to read a book or drink a cup of tea in the evening. If the weather is bad, I can stay in bed on a day off and not feel bad for not going out. If the weather is good I go out. I really do not stay in bed…I go to the sofa…and sometimes to the kitchen and back.

BW: Are you fearless?

JT: No, I fear a lot of things, like spiders and dogs; mostly animals!

BW: What piece of advice guides you every day?

JT: It is not exactly advice, but I always try to have fun with what I am doing.

BW: What is the hardest part of being a professional biathlete?

JT: It is that you are always a biathlete; it is not between 8 and 4 pm; it is 24/7. In the summer, I do not have to worry so much about health. But when autumn starts, I try not to meet too many friends, especially when I know they are active and partying. That is probably the hardest thing, trying to stay healthy and not seeing my friends or family.

BW: What is your biggest food indulgence, something you cannot live without?

JT: I think before training, it is porridge. It is the one thing I can eat and know I will not have stomach problems. I have a sensitive stomach; I cannot drink milk. I have to watch out a little bit about what I eat.

BW: What was the last thing you bought for yourself that has nothing to do with sports?

JT: Books; I ordered four new books yesterday.

BW: What is your hidden talent that few people know about?

JT: I have a strange hidden talent. I can wiggle my little toes. I have really strong toes, so I can grab things with them. I think I could pick up marbles with each of my toes (like is done sometimes in therapy to strengthen the foot).

BW: What advice would you give to a 12 or 13-year-old just starting biathlon?

JT: They have to appreciate the beauty of biathlon. You can train so much, doing different things. If you are a swimmer, you swim most of the time. If you are a biathlete, you can do so many things that are so much fun. I think you need to appreciate this nice sport and have fun.

Photos: IBU/Nordnes, Nordic Focus/Manzoni