Denise HERRMANN

OLYMPIC HISTORY
Became the third German woman to win Olympic biathlon gold after Antje Harvey (1992) and Andrea Henkel (2002).

BIATHLON SWITCH
Switched from cross-country skiing to biathlon in April 2016, despite never having shot a gun before. "It has been very difficult. I need a lot of time to catch up with the other girls. But we have good coaches, and I have a great crew in Ruhpolding. They show me what to do, they are really good shooters. I see every day what the top of the world is. I have skied a long time, so that part is fine, but shooting is something new." (biathlon-news.de, 9 Dec 2016; denise-herrmann.de, 10 Jun 2016; OIS, 12 Feb 2018)

SUSPENSION
Tested positive for clenbuterol in 2007. Claimed she accidentally ingested it in the form of cough medicine at her parents' house. The German Ski Federation (DSV) accepted her explanation and suspended her for one year. (xc-ski.de, 27 Feb 2013; spox.com, 3 Dec 2007)

CHILDHOOD
Grew up in Bockau the Erzgebirge (Ore Mountains), where she discovered her passion for winter sports. Started attending the ski gymnasium in Oberwiesenthal in 2000. (denise-herrmann.de, May 2021).

PARTNER
Dating former German cross-country skier Thomas Wick, a Junior World Championship silver (2009) and bronze (2010) medallist, who competed in the World Cup from 2013 and was National Champion (15km classic) in 2018. After failing to qualify for the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games and the 2019 Nordic World Championships in Seefeld, he retired from competitive sport in March 2020. (Instagram, 20 Sep 2020; insidethegames.biz, 1 Apr 2020)

© Data by Sports Data Warehouse

Won her first gold in the 15km individual event and claimed bronze in the relay at the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games.

Won three medals at her first World Championship in 2019 (Oestersund), winning a gold (pursuit), silver (mixed relay) and bronze medal (mass start). Finished fourth in the single mixed relay and women's relay, where they missed a medal by 0.5 seconds. Added two relay silver medals (2020, 2021) and a pursuit silver in 2020 (Antholz).

Finished third overall after the 2019/20 season, after finishing eighth the previous season. Won the sprint Crystal Globe, with victories in Nove Mesto and Kontiolahti, and a second-place in Oberhof.

First World Cup win was in December 2017, at the season opener in Oestersund, winning the sprint and pursuit. Her victory was also her first individual podium finish, having won the relay, in PyeongChang, the previous season.

Finished ninth overall in the 2016/17 IBU Cup (her first season in biathlon). Won the sprint in Beitolstolen (her first race), by 5.6 seconds, despite missing six shots, and finished third in the second sprint at Beitolstolen. Was on the podium again a week later, finishing third, in the mixed relay, at Ridnaun. Had two more podium finishes, a win (sprint) and a third-place (pursuit) in Brezno.

Began competing in international cross-country events in 2004. Won the 7.5km Free at the 2005 European Youth Olympic Festival in Monthey; bronze medallist in the 1km sprint classic at the 2007 Junior World Championships in Tarvisio; and silver medallist in the 1km sprint free at the 2010 U23 World Championships in Hinterzarten. (denise-herrmann.de, May 2021)