Interview

Interview taken from the Thuringian newspaper "Thüringer Allgemeine" from Sept. 1^st 2000. The interviewer was Gerald Müller

Relaxing on the raised hide

Biathlete Sven Fischer enjoys hunting and admires Hartwig Gauder

The season is coming nearer and nearer. Do you, apart from looking forward to the winter, feel the pressure to succeed?
I like the pressure. After all it is the result of my achievements. From that point of view I can’t wait the competitions to start. When I met all the athletes of different nations on Belmeken recently, I felt like competing as soon as possible.

Other athletes are happy about fifth or sixth places. You are spoilt by success. Is it a strain to know, that people expect you winning medals?
But I know both: winning and being defeated. The most important thing for me is to stay healthy. If this is the case, it would be okay for me to become only tenth despite of all efforts. But it would be a pity, if I couldn’t achieve my standard of performance because of any infection.

Does that mean, you have to handle yourself with kid gloves?
No, I’m not oversensitive and don’t flee every drop of rain. But meanwhile I always bring a sweater to slip over when it’s getting cool.

You needed it at the game of golf last weekend, where you played on the invitation of Hartwig Gauder. Are you a member of “Sportsmen for donation of an organ”?
No I’m not, but I sympathize with that organisation very much. And I admire Hartwig Gauder. As a child, when I was an athlete of track-and-field sports myself, I pursued his career. And later I pursued his struggle against his disease. I think it is admirable, how he coped with his fate. And he lead many people to believe that it’s worth fighting. Hartwig’s valuable message is: never give up.

Was there a moment when you as biathlete thought about giving up?
My career once was very much in danger because of a serious knee injury. But I think as a sportsman I am a fighter and nothing gets me down easily. At the World Championships in Oslo 1999 my very first shot was a miss. There were two opportunities: to give up or to fight. I gave everything, had 19 clean shots and won gold.

In Mühlberg you played golf. Is golf a recreational sport for you?
Not really, I do it just for fun and I’m able to hit the ball. But I don’t have enough time and passion for a lot of playing.

What is your favorite way of diversion?
Hunting. I like it best with my brother-in-law Lucki (Frank Luck). I can relax completely then. It even happens that I sleep for about half an hour on the raised hide. And when I stalk through the woods, I feel fine.

There seem to be parallels to biathlon.
Yes, concentration, taking aim, adjusting, shooting. You can compare these things. Maybe that’s the reason I like hunting so much.

When does the serious side of sports start again?
It starts with the autums performance tests in Ruhpolding and Oberhof. I’m especially looking forward to the races in Thuringia, when we run around the shooting range on roller-ski.