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07.05.2007
Retirement
from high performance sports
Sven came to the decision to end his career as biathlete. Years ago he
told me, he wouldn't announce his retirement in advance, but would quit
without gaudiness. Not everyone appreciates this quiet resignment, but
it fits. Once again he remains true to himself.
Sven looks back on a long list of achievements: 15 years in the World
Cup, only once not being in the top 10. 4 Olympic gold medals, 7 World
Champion titles, 33 World Cup victories, 150 times on the rostrum, to
name just the greatest. He won the overall World Cup twice. For me
personally he's a 4 time winner: he lost the overall twice in an
armchair decision because of deleted results. No other athlete had to
bear that. Another time he became ill just before the all-dominante
competition. That's bad luck, but Sven could cope with that, because of
his ability to accept things as they are. He took his sport seriously,
but he has always known that there are even more important things in
life than sports.
Now, aged 36, the time has come to start a new life and having more time
for his family: his girl friend Doreen and daughter Emilia Sophie.
Biathlon loses a great athlete and a big deal of humanity with Sven's
resignment.
For the German fans Sven doesn't get lost competely: next season he will
co-comment biathlon events on the German broadcasting station ZDF.
That's a kind of consolation, isn't it?
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