As Oberhof opens Trimester 2 and the final phase before the Olympic Winter Games 2026, Dominik Landertinger decodes the Johan Olav Botn phenomenon and explains how he painstakingly built back his form after back surgery to win a medal at the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Games.

The first trimester of the season delivered some changing dynamics. Above all, Johan Olav Botn emerged as the defining athlete of early winter. What stands out most about Botn is his shooting. His numbers alone are extraordinary — 96% overall accuracy and an astonishing 99% in standing — but statistics tell only part of the story. His real strength lies in situational awareness. Botn adapts his shooting cadence perfectly: shooting fast when the situation demands it, slowing down and blocking out distractions when precision is needed. He has clearly mastered his shooting protocol. Combined with technically clean, consistently strong skiing, this balance makes him one of the leading favourites for the Total Score title. To sustain this level, the key will be staying healthy and continuing to execute his shooting routines with the same discipline and attention to detail shown in the opening weeks.

The Christmas holidays are always a welcome break, but they can easily disrupt an athlete’s rhythm. After three weeks of high-intensity World Cup racing, I know how weakened the immune system can be, so I’ve learned to be especially careful during this period. My focus was on finding the right balance between proper rest and rebuilding the foundation. I worked on my endurance and strength, and paid close attention to the finer details of my shooting technique. Before heading to Oberhof, I also chose to race a test competition — just to switch the competitive mindset back on and feel that race tension again. Staying healthy is the biggest challenge over Christmas. The greatest risk comes from gatherings with family and friends. Over the years, I’ve been lucky to have a lot of understanding within my closest circle, and I’ve never hesitated to keep my distance from anyone who was ill.

Oberhof marks the beginning of the final build-up toward the Olympic Winter Games Milano–Cortina 2026, and it is one of the most demanding stops on the calendar. The course is physically brutal, while the shooting range is notoriously exposed to shifting winds. Add Oberhof’s unpredictable weather — where snow, rain, sun, and strong gusts can alternate within hours — and the result is a week that tests every aspect of biathlon. Among the women, Lou Jeanmonnot appears capable of handling any condition. Dorothea Wierer and Lisa Vittozzi traditionally thrive in Oberhof, as does Lisa Theresa Hauser. If she stayed healthy over Christmas, Franziska Preuss is expected to be a major factor as well. On the men’s side, much attention will be on Germany and how they used the break. Can they challenge the Norwegians and French, as well as Sebastian Samuelsson and Tommaso Giacomel, all of whom were highly convincing in the first trimester?

Coming back after health problems mid-season is mentally extremely demanding. I experienced this firsthand after surgery for a herniated disc before the 2017/2018 Olympic season. In December, in Hochfilzen, I watched my teammates — and athletes from other teams — train and compete from the physio room. It was a very hard moment. What helped me was knowing I had the right people around me and that we were following a detailed plan. Still, the process tested my patience and resilience, especially since small setbacks were unavoidable. Our approach was clear and structured. For the first four weeks after surgery, I did nothing but rest. Then I started slow walks — ten minutes a day, gradually increasing to an hour over two weeks. In weeks seven and eight, I added stationary bike sessions, core strength, and higher intensity. Only then did I return to my full biathlon routine. When I travelled to PyeongChang, my skiing wasn’t yet optimal, but biathlon is complex. With clean shooting, I won bronze in the Individual — an enormous mental effort for me and the whole team. Throughout, I relied heavily on my physiotherapist and coaching staff. During the 2018 Olympics, a back specialist checked my condition daily, giving me tremendous confidence. Above all, the support of my family — through the hardest moments and the whole season — meant everything. If one quality defines successful comebacks, it is patience. Patience is the mother of success. And no one knows this better than Franziska Preuss.

Franziska started this season with a minor injury and then faced back-to-back COVID-19 and flu infections. Being an exceptional athlete, she already showed in Annecy–Le Grand-Bornand that she is on the right path, finishing sixth in the Mass Start. From my perspective, the most important thing for her now is to stay calm, follow her training plan carefully, and build her form step by step toward Milano–Cortina 2026. If she stays healthy, she will be among the main favourites for medals in Antholz–Anterselva.

As for Austria, the first trimester delivered mixed signals. Lisa Theresa Hauser started the season strongly, while the young women showed impressive ski speed but lacked consistency on the shooting range. The potential of the women’s relay team is significant. On the men’s side, Simon Eder performed excellently, while David Komatz struggled with health issues, and the younger athletes are still developing toward a world-class level. The team is clearly in a transition phase — and transitions take time.