New biathlon boss Sumann calls for upheaval and better performance!

New biathlon boss Sumann calls for upheaval and better performance!

Hochfilzen, Österreich - Christoph Sumann has been the new division of the Austrian Biathlon Association (ÖSV) since Wednesday. He succeeds Franz Berger and had previously expressed public interest in this important position. Sumann sees the need for a change in the ÖSV biathlon, especially in the men's area, and has ambitious goals for the coming years.

One of the first major challenges for Sumann will be the appointment of a new men's head coach. This task is a top priority, since the training start for the new season is imminent on May 1st. The urgency is high, because high quality coaches are rare due to the upcoming Olympics. Sumann could consider Ludwig "Luggi" Gredler, the previous assistant coach, as a temporary solution until the final decision. He has already indicated the possibility of choosing a young, inexperienced trainer from his own ranks.

long -term goals and self -reflection

In the long term, Sumann pursues the goal of leading the men's team back into the top six of the nation ranking up to the 2028 home World Cup in Hochfilzen. The last season ended Austria in eleventh place and thereby lost an important World Cup starting place. To change this, Sumann plans to strengthen the “we feeling” in the team and to improve the cooperation between athletes, trainers and service staff.

A central point in Sumann's strategy is to promote an honest self -reflection of the athletes. He criticizes the tendency to blame external circumstances for weak performance. A well-known material problem in the ÖSV biathlon should not serve as an excuse. In addition, Sumann emphasizes the need to significantly improve the men's skills.

Focus on women's team

In the women's team, fewer changes are planned because it is on a better way overall. Anna Andexer is considered a great hope for success, but patience is also required here. Lisa Hauser, who most recently trained in a Swiss training group, is to be brought back to the ÖSV team. Sumann has also emphasized that special treatments in training should belong to the past in the future.

The latest changes within the Austrian biathlon system follow the men's team after a change of coach. The ÖSV had previously ended the collaboration with the German head coach Ricco Groß. This decision has already been announced in mid -March and is now officially implemented. Groß, which has been at the top of the Austrian biathletes since 2018, had to be responsible for the first medal-free Olympic winter for Austria since 2006. His successor was the Norwegian Vegard Bitnes, who had previously trained the ÖSV women.