Biathlete Vanessa Hinz ends her active career with immediate effect. The 31-year-old failed to qualify for the World Cup due to illness and injury. "My body and my head showed me that it should be over at the age of 31," says Hinz in parting.
Three-time relay world champion Vanessa Hinz is retiring from biathlon with immediate effect. The 30-year-old from SC Schliersee was in the A squad for more than ten years, but has recently had to struggle with injuries and health setbacks. This is one of the reasons why she was unable to qualify for the home world championships in Oberhof, which begin next Wednesday. Hinz celebrated her greatest individual success with silver at the 2020 World Championships in Antholz, and overall she won gold at the World Championships three times and silver at the World Championships four times. She also won bronze in the relay at the Olympic Games in Beijing last year.
"Even in the summer, even before the injuries started, it was clear to me that I was going into my last season. My body and my mind showed me that competitive sports should be over at the age of 31. I'm absolutely ready for the next phase of life", Hinz, who has her birthday at the end of March, announced in a statement from the association. Hinz had complained of back problems after the Summer World Championships in Ruhpolding, fell ill afterwards, tore the lateral ligament in his left foot and contracted tendonitis in his right hand.
She failed to qualify for the World Cup team at the start of the season and competed in the second tier IBU Cup. When she was scheduled to play in the World Cup, she caught a cold. She was still in action at the European Championships in Lenzerheide, now she ended her career. "I am ending my career feeling happy that I was able to experience so many beautiful moments with other great athletes during this time," said Hinz.
(This article was first published on Saturday, February 04, 2023.)
