By Oliver Trust

BERLIN, Feb 16 (Xinhua) -- When Franziska Preuss crossed the finish line in Lenzerheide, Switzerland, on Sunday, cheered by thousands of fans and waving the German flag, she may have reflected on the journey that led her here.

16 years ago, a single moment changed everything for her - one that ultimately paved the way for her to claim gold in the women's pursuit at the 2025 Biathlon World Championships.

The 30-year-old German biathlete completed a medal haul in Lenzerheide, winning gold in the pursuit, silver in the sprint, and bronze in the team relay. Her latest triumph marked her first individual world championship title, having previously won medals only in team events.

Looking back to March 2009, Preuss's biathlon future lay in the balance. At the time, she was focused on athletics, with track and field as her primary sport. However, her adventurous spirit led her to explore other possibilities. When her parents gifted her a voucher for test-training sessions at a winter sports school run by German biathlon coach Fritz Fischer, she gave it a try. The experience proved transformative, and she soon received an invitation to join Germany's talent team.

Her journey has been anything but smooth. "I've been through so many valleys, so many setbacks - it feels like a dream," Preuss said, reflecting on her long and often challenging road to success. For years, she battled persistent health issues, including chronic sinus infections, which repeatedly disrupted her training and competition schedule.

Now, with her flawless performance in the pursuit, including perfect shooting, she has positioned herself as a serious contender for Olympic success at the 2026 Winter Games in Milan-Cortina, where the biathlon events will be held in Antholz, South Tyrol.

Her emotional victory celebration was shared with family and teammates, including her parents, Elisabeth and Georg, and her partner, former German biathlete Simon Schempp. The team's Norwegian head coach, Sverre Olsbu Roiseland, played a key role in her success - so much so that he made a bold promise before the race: "If Franziska wins gold, I'll shave my head."

True to his word, Roiseland honored the bet. As the German star soaked in her long-awaited victory, she stepped into a new role - picking up the clippers to shave her coach's head.

"I wasn't thinking about winning; I just wanted to stay close to my strongest rivals and focus on my shooting," Preuss said. That strategy worked to perfection, and now, after years of struggle, she stands on top of the world - both as a champion and as a hairdresser for a day. Enditem

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