Biathlonworld 55, 2020 ENG

FEATURE IBU WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS BIATHLON 2020 ANTHOLZ-ANTERSELVA - ITA
So now it was there, at “my” second
IBU World Championship, where I was
able to participate as an announcer on
the front lines. I had prepared myself
carefully, collected data, and conducted
interviews, and my annual visits to
the IBU Youth/Junior World Championships
also meant that I was quite
familiar with the “greenhorns”. High
up from the “Eagle’s Nest” (that’s what
Martin Böckle once named our high-altitude
announcer booth), I would narrate,
describe and commend the feats
of JT Boe, Martin Fourcade, but also of
Rene Zakhna or Martin Ponsiluoma, of
Dorothea Wierer and Anais Bescond,
but also of Milena Todorova or Gabriele
Lescinskaite. I would have a truly
wonderful team at my side, eloquent
and witty commentators, a fantastic female
disc jockey, an attentive producer
and many technicians who would ensure
that we have the right sound and
volume.
TENSION WAS PALPABLE
There was a crackling tension when
I first entered the vast area of the South
Tyrol Arena in Antholz. The women were
training, and I was able to greet Synnoeve
Solemdal and Anais Bescond right away,
and journalists were also waiting at the
exit for short interviews, with Kamila Zuk
or Emma Lunder. We also made a detour
to the wax technicians to be completely
immersed in the experience. When Maria
Theresa Wurzer handed me the first start
list in the racing office, the anticipation
and tension grew.
It started with the mixed relay, and the
crowd in Antholz went wild right away,
because the home team from Italy won
silver. Lisa Vittozzi, Dorothea Wierer, a
sensational Lukas Hofer and Dominik
Windisch only had to admit defeat to the
high-flyers from Norway. I was also happy
that the Czech Republic surprisingly won
bronze behind them, and I was especially
pleased for Ondrej Moravec, with whom
I had had extensive conversations in the
summer and later again in Obertilliach.
There was also a Czech celebration the
following day when Lucie Charvatova
took bronze in the sprint. The same Lucie
I had seen the evening before over a
nice cup of cappuccino. In the meantime,
Marte Olsbu Roiseland had already won
her second gold...
Alexander Loginov won the men’s
sprint. The Russian is not popular with
every commentator, but as official announcers,
my colleagues Stefan, Martin,
28 BIATHLON WORLD 55 I 2020