Anna Gandler is stepping into a new chapter. In an honest interview, she shares the story behind her bold decision to leave the Austrian biathlon team, her fresh start in France with boyfriend Emilien Claude, and the personal growth that comes with taking control of her career. With her eyes set on the IBU World Championships 2028 in Hochfilzen, Austria, and the 2030 Olympic Winter Games in the French Alps, Gandler is determined to rediscover her passion for the sport—and this time, on her own terms.

Biathlonworld (BW): Anna, how did you spend the first weeks after the season ended?

Anna Gandler (AG): After the World Cup in Oslo, I trained for a few more days to enjoy the snow. Then, I went to Kenya with my boyfriend, Emilien (Emilien Claude, of course). I fell in love with that country many years ago. It was a big contrast to winter sports, but it was great for clearing my mind. For me, Kenya is an absolute paradise. We went diving, did a safari, and thought about something other than our sport.

BW: You decided to leave the Austrian team and organize your own preparation. Why?

AG: Out of love. Emilien and I have been together for five years, but we’ve been in a long-distance relationship. He lives in France, and I lived in Austria. If we wanted to see each other, one of us had to drive at least seven hours. That was very exhausting in the long run. With the changes in the Austrian Ski Federation’s coaching staff, I saw an opportunity to take my own path. Now, we live together in France, and I’m responsible for everything myself.

BW: What challenges does this step bring?

AG: I thought long and hard about whether to take this step. I didn’t want to just leave my team. Only now can I truly appreciate how much the federation takes off your plate—whether it’s reserving the shooting range or planning training camps. Plus, I have to finance everything myself. That works through my income from sponsorship deals and my social media reach, but I first had to sort everything out.

BW: What does your training routine look like now?AG: My dad writes my training plans, and I spend a lot of time with Emilien and his brothers. We do most of our training sessions together. I can learn a lot from them, especially for my shooting.

BW: For many couples, transitioning from a long-distance relationship to living together is a big change. How has your relationship changed because of this?

AG: It was a big step for us to suddenly have so much time together. But it has definitely been good for our relationship. We enjoy the time we spend together and the normal everyday life. If we don’t see each other for a day or two now, we already miss each other. But we also manage to make sure that not every day revolves around biathlon. After training, we can switch off and talk about other things.

BW: What conclusions can you draw after the first six months?

AG: I’m very happy that I was brave enough to make this change. I’m happy in France with Emilien and can continue my sport. That’s the most important thing to me. Of course, I’m now solely responsible for myself, but I’m growing because I have to think for myself and make my own decisions. I can trust my instincts, and that strengthens my personality.

BW: The past two years have certainly not been what you hoped for in terms of sports. What are your goals for the coming years?AG: It’s important to me that I enjoy biathlon again. I want to achieve a podium finish in the World Cup. In the 2023/2024 season, I was often close, but in the past two years, I haven’t been able to build on that. And then there’s the Home World Championships in Hochfilzen in 2028 and the 2030 Olympic Winter Games—in my adopted home of France.