Never give up: Lena Häcki-Gross
Biathlete Lena Häcki-Gross is known as a bundle of energy, but she is also an athlete with heart and soul. Her consistent performances, tireless endurance and great determination has earned her permanent place at the forefront of international biathlon. The likeable Swiss athlete made her final breakthrough in the 23l24 season with her first World Cup victory in Antholz in the individual race, which had not been her favorite discipline until then.
When did you start skiing on Fischer?
I've been on Fischer right from the start. My first skis were from Fischer - back then you could rent a ski for the whole season. Even when I tried other skis, Fischer skis were always the highlight for me.
- I am an athlete with heart and soul. This is simply my dream job and I am incredibly happy that I get to do it.
- I always like to wear funny socks
What is your personal motto?
Never give up!
What impression did you get from your first ski production tour?
It was incredibly interesting for me to see how a ski is made. You may already know a little bit [about the process], but certainly not in such detail. It was extremely exciting to see the different steps and to be allowed to take a look behind the scenes.
What comes to your mind when you think of 100 years of Fischer?
It combines tradition and innovation. Being on the market for 100 years means that you've always done a good job and always come up with new innovations. Fischer also takes care of its athletes. The cooperation with Fischer is very pleasant and that's what motivated me to be with Fischer for so long.
How did you experience your first World Cup victory in Antholz in the 23l24 season?
The competition was a very special one for me because the individual race has not been my favorite discipline so far. Anyone who has known me for a while knows that I'm more of a “hara-kiri shooter” than a precision shooter. To be able to celebrate my first World Cup victory in an individual race, where it's all about shooting but you also need a solid skiing performance to set yourself apart from everyone else, was really something special. What's more, I crossed the finish line with bib number 14 and had to worry about my victory for a long time because so many other athletes after me. That was a nice feeling for me, but also a tough one.
Are there any changes in training for you?
The men's team has joined the women's team in Switzerland and we are now one big training group. This opens great opportunities, especially for us women, because we have extremely good shooters in the men's team from whom we can learn a lot. It's cool to see how the team works together and progresses.
What do the World Championships in Lenzerheide, in your own country, mean to you?
First of all, it's of course a highlight for every athlete to be able to take part at the World Championships in their own country. For me, I'm also in a top position of my career. It's incredibly great to see how the sport has developed and that we've come to the point where we can organize a home World Championships. The fact that there is so much interest in Biathlon in Switzerland is something I am proud of.
What is your personal goal for the World Championships in Lenzerheide?
The first goal is that I can show my best possible level of performance at the World Championships and we have talked for a long time with the coaches about how we can achieve this with the training plan. I don't want to set myself any specific goals, I just want to deliver my best possible result. And in Biathlon this can be anything from 1st to 10th place, because it really depends on the conditions and what the other competitors are doing at the time. I just want to do my job as well as possible and then we'll see what comes out.
