La Loupe Garmisch-Partenkirchen No. 5

training for the Olympic season of 2017/18
in Pyeongchang/South Korea. Despite the
intense training Laura Dahlmeier took the
time for an interview with La Loupe where she
talked about her goals for the coming winter
season and the most formative experiences as
a biathlete.
L.L. During your competitions you are extremely focused
and concentrated. Is that a quality you always had or
something you had to practise over time?
L.D. I always try to work on my strengths and weaknesses
in every area. Of course, that also includes mental training
and focus. So yes, it’s a strength of mine, but one I had to fight
hard for to make sure I can start into a competition with all
my mental strength.
Sport & Freizeit
Laura Dahlmeier, daughter of the two
successful professional athletes
Susi and Andreas Dahlmeier, was born in
Garmisch-Partenkirchen in 1993. At the age
of seven she first held a biathlon rifle in her
hands, it took another two years for her to
decide on the sport. Since
her A-levels in 2011 Laura Dahlmeier has
been focusing on the sport where she was
able to celebrate multiple successes. Meanwhile
she has become a fixed member of the
German Ski Association’s A-cadre and the
World Cup team.
In her private life the athlete from
Garmisch-Partenkirchen enjoys spending
time in the nature while hiking, climbing,
mountain biking, and ski touring.
“I enjoy being out
in the nature where
I can recharge
my batteries.”
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L.L. Ms. Dahlmeier, ever since your
great successes during the last season
there has been a lot of interest in
your person. Have you gotten used
to the media hype yet?
L.D. With the six World Championship
medals the last winter was incredible.
I am aware that the media’s
interest in my person has increased
over the past years but I can’t say I
can get used to it.
L.L. You were passionate about
alpine skiing until you were nine
years old. How did you end up in
the biathlon discipline?
L.D. I always enjoyed going downhill
– but when I was a child I simply felt that the wait for the
lift was too long (laughs). Biathlon, on the other hand, has
always been lots of fun for me and so I stuck with it.
L.L. Russia, South Korea, Finland, Norway – as a biathlete
you travel all over the world. Is there any one experience
that has formed you in the course of your career?
L.D. Yes, we really are on the road quite a lot. However,
one can’t really enjoy the time abroad because training and
preparation for the competition start right after arrival. I
would say that the places where I was most successful have
definitely formed me: Oslo, Antholz, and Hochfilzen.
L.L. At the moment you’re busy training
for the 2017/18 Olympic season.
What are your goals?
L.D. Well first of all I’d say it’s every
athlete’s biggest dream to be allowed
to take part in Olympic Winter Games.
Three years ago in Sochi that childhood
dream became true for me. Of course,
the expectations are high after the
World Championship in Hochfilzen.
I personally want to deliver my best
performance on the cross-country
trail and the shooting range. In the
end, the result really is of secondary
importance.
L.L. You need breaks, too. How
do you like to spend your time in
Garmisch-Partenkirchen when
you’re not busy training?
L.D. I always like to be out in the
nature to recharge my batteries. So
it’s only logical that I spend a lot of
my free time in the mountains around
Garmisch-Partenkirchen.
More information: www.laura-dahlmeier.de
LAURA DAHLMEIER'S
WORDRAP
For me home means …
relaxation.
Running or shooting?
Both!
My role model is …
in the athletic world Martin Fourcade
and Magdalena Neuner, personally the
extreme mountaineer Ueli Steck.
If I hadn’t become a professional athlete
I would now be …
host in a mountain hut (laughs).
My favourite place for training:
Garmisch-Partenkirchen.
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