Anna Gandler, after a 2023/24 season that produced the five best results of her career encountered a speed bump that derailed her 2024/25 season. Extended illness and a hospital stay forced her to end the season early, take an extensive rest, and slowly return to training. Now after a solid summer, a 19-for 20 pursuit in Antholz last month, and another 19-for-20 this this weekend’s Austrian Champs short individual, the 2020 IBU Junior Pursuit World Champion is in a good place. “I am really happy with that performance and the developments in my training.”

With the Austrian Summer Championships on the agenda this past weekend, Gandler revealed her Monday Routine and the one thing that really scares her.

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

Anna Gandler: It depends on if I am training or not, but I train all the time. So normally I wake up at 7 am and the first thing I do is measure my resting heart rate. That is a good indicator of if I had a good regeneration or if you are getting sick. If it is over a hundred, I would stay in bed, but sometimes you have no choice and have to get up anyway. If it is really high, I talk with the coach and do only easy training.

BW: What is the first app you look at when you turn on your phone?

AG: It is my notes to put down my heart rate, to tell my coach because I am really forgetful in the morning! Sometimes I look at Instagram but not too often, because I think it is not so good to have too much information in the morning.

BW: What makes your breakfast routine perfect?

AG: My porridge, my special creation with oats, milk and smashed banana, nut butter and berries. That is the perfect breakfast for me. If (boyfriend) Emilien (Claude) is here, he makes eggs with ham and cheese and I like to have that too!

BW: Coffee or tea?

AG: Tea…fruit tea and in the winter cinnamon apple tea. I don’t drink coffee.

BW: Does your early morning regime include stretching, yoga, a jog or mental preparation for the day ahead?

AG: Sadly, none of these. I tried it once in summer, but for me every minute of sleep counts more than anything else.

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

AG: Definitely, yes. I think a lot about every training I do. I am not doing training just to train. I think about every session. If I feel tired and do not have the motivation, I do less. Then the next day, when I feel more motivated I will do more. The quality (of the session) is most important.

BW: What scares you?

AG: Spiders! BW: When the day is over, what do you do to wind down?

AG: I watch a Netflix series or just take a siesta. Right now, I am watching “Wednesday.” That siesta is one of the most important things for me. I like to have a little sleep after lunch. If I do not sleep in the afternoon, I am not ready for afternoon training.

BW: What is the biggest lesson last season taught you?

AG: You should always listen to your body and sometimes it is better not to race. Wait, skip a World Cup stage, and go to the next one.

BW: How hard was you first training this spring?

AG: It was not hard, because we always start with easy sessions. When you come home from holidays, you are in this beach mood and it is hard to get motivated. Then you start a little bit; it gets better and better and you are motivated with new goals for the season. That is what I saw in front of me; I was very motivated.

BW: What is your biggest food indulgence?

AG: Donuts; every time I see them, I buy one. I just love them! Also, strawberries, maybe even more!

BW: What is your most prized possession?

AG: That is really difficult, but I think my phone. I could not survive without my phone!

BW: What is the last thing you bought for yourself?

AG: A heart rate monitor for training.

BW: What project is on your “to do” list before the new season starts?

AG: Not really any projects. Now my project is to have the hard sessions to be prepared for winter with full focus on the season. I will not do a lot besides that. I want to focus all my energy on training. I will do the Loop One Festival in Munich, so maybe that is a project: otherwise, all in for the winter!

Photos: IBU/ Nordic Focus