Johannes Kuehn’s Goal: “Perform well in every race”

Three weeks after his 30th birthday, Johannes Kuehn gave himself probably the best-ever belated birthday present, his first-ever BMW IBU World Cup victory, winning the men’s 10 km sprint at Hochfilzen. That first victory had been a long-time coming for the German, three days short of the ninth anniversary of his World Cup debut in the 2012 Pokljuka men’s sprint.

Over the ensuing years, Kuehn bounced from the World Cup to the IBU Cup and back several times before settling on the German World Cup squad in the 2017/18 season. A start at the Pyeongchang Olympic Winter Games and the last three IBU World Championships, his first podium in the 2018 Pokljuka 20 km individual and the occasional top 10 finish were high points for this journeyman biathlete. Now at the beginning of 2022, he is at a new level, one of the many men who can win or challenge for the podium on any given day. With that first victory on his resume and two “home” BMW IBU World Cups in Oberhof and Ruhpolding first up in 2022, Kuehn reflected on his win, his excellent prone shooting, goals and the upcoming Beijing Olympic Winter Games.

Biathlonworld (BW): You started the season at the Idre IBU Cup where you were on the sprint podium, were you confident you would do well there and move on to Oestersund for the World Cup?

Johannes Kuehn (JK): I was not sure that I would do well, but I knew that I would go to Oestersund for the second weekend. We had qualification in Muonio, and it was pretty close, but unfortunately, I was not good enough to qualify directly. Luckily, the coaches decided that two would go the first week and I the second week. It was good for my head to know that I would go to the World Cup, but on the side, everyone was watching and I did not want to be the worst of the German guys…Of course it is easier to start on the IBU Cup but once you go down, you usually need to be the best to go back. The good thing in IBU Cup is that usually if you start and feel good and are in normal shape, you will be among the best.

BW: You had some decent results in Oestersund (12th sprint, 14th pursuit) and then you go to Hochfilzen and get that big win, did you have any special feelings that it would be something more than just another race?

JK: No, absolutely not. It was a normal race like every other one. I was a bit more nervous than usual, but I do not know why. I was quite satisfied with my performance in Oestersund, especially because we needed to qualify for the Olympics (one top 8 or two top 15). In my case, I needed to show that I am better the others so I could stay in the World Cup. There was extra pressure. I was in the top 8 until the last kilometer in Oestersund so I knew that it was possible. But I never expected what happened in Hochfilzen. I felt better on the tracks than in the Oestersund sprint, especially at the end. We had good, but not great skis, but if you are on the podium, you need good skis. No one, not even Johannes Thingnes Boe is on the podium with bad skis!

It was a bit sad to start with number 9 and be in front; not many real good people to compare with. Then I was ahead of number 14 Ponsiluoma and thought maybe top eight; that would be fine for me. I was happy, but like in the Annecy mass start, where I was sixth and was really happy, because you immediately see what you got. Hochfilzen was not like that. It was never a race where I thought I would win. The only special thing was that I was leading the whole time…and in my last loop, the trainers were of course pushing me, but no one was saying I would win; they were just happy that I only had one mistake!

BW: You have secured an Olympic spot, is the goal to continue at a high level so you get starts in the individual competitions and the relay?

JK: My main goal is to perform well in every race, whether it is a relay or individual. I did not make the relay team at the IBU WCH at Anterselva in 2020 even though I was the third best. I was upset then but realized later, the coaches do not pick the best but the most reliable. My shooting then was not that stable. Now as they did then, it will be best to decide on the performance level at that moment. It is a good chance and maybe the best chance for a German to win a medal in the relay, because winning an individual medal is quite hard, almost impossible. The chance to do it in the relay are much higher.

…If you win, you are Olympic Champion; that is something special. On the other side, I am not Emilien, Quentin or JT who win so often. They can go to the Olympics and say they want to win a medal. I won one time, was second once and third once in ten years. I cannot go there and say I want to win a medal. My business is World Cup and I hope to do good races to have a good ranking in the end (currently 11th). That in my opinion shows how good an athlete is…It is fine to be Olympic Champion, but to win the overall, shows you are the best. Still, I hope to do many races in Beijing and do well, but if I do not, life goes on.

BW: You have always shot well in prone and as of today, you have missed exactly zero prone shots this season. What makes you such a good prone shot?

JK: Some years ago, I tried to change my position so I would shoot maybe a bit better in standing. After a few weeks, I realized that I gave up some confidence and good parts of my prone shooting and did not shoot so good any more in prone. That changed my mind. I said to myself, ‘If you already start with one (penalty), you have to shoot zero (in standing). If you start with zero, you maybe shoot one (in standing), it is fine and if you shoot zero it is really good.’ If you hit all five (in prone) in several competitions, you get more confidence. Prone is not so difficult for me at the moment. I struggle in standing because there is more movement. You cannot relax so well and in prone, you just need to stop breathing, watch the target and shoot. It is not difficult.

BW: Two World Cups at home in Germany, unfortunately without spectators, how important are they for you personally and how tough is it to compete at those two venues?

JK: Fans are nice, and I saw in Annecy how much I missed that…It is nice when there are some people (in the stadium). I like the Oberhof tracks and if there are fair conditions, on the range and track, it is a good World Cup for sure. Ruhpolding, my home World Cup is also nice, but honestly, I do not like the tracks that much. It does not suit me that well. It is not a bad track, but for my skiing style it is not the best. Ruhpolding is like Annecy, few penalties so you need a very high level of shooting; not perfect for me. But it is at home and always nice. It is always good for friends and family, but now I think, maybe next year.

BW: You have the World Cup win that was surely on your goal’s check list, what is next on your list?

JK: Staying healthy; I broke my shoulder two times and had some ankle problems. I know it is not good to be injured. When I was small, I had several dreams. First, I wanted to get to the national team. I managed that. Then if you get a top 15 or a WCH medal, you get a team car. I managed that several years ago. One thing that I did not do and would like to do is win a World Championship or Olympic medal, no matter if it is a team or individual. I have won IBU Junior and European Championships medals, but that is something I do not have, and it is really hard to achieve…To win a medal, you need to be in the top three on that special day. It would be nice not just for me, but for the team to win a medal.

Photos: IBU/Christian Manzoni, Evgeny Tumashov