1. Skip to content
  2. Skip to main menu
  3. Skip to more DW sites
Live TV
Latest audioLatest videos
In focus
Russia's war in UkraineIsrael-Hamas warIndia elections

Neuner bows out in style

March 17, 2012

Magdalena Neuner claimed her third overall biathlon World Cup title on Saturday by finishing fourth in the pursuit over 10 kilometers in Siberia. France's Martin Fourcade claimed the overall men's title.

https://p.dw.com/p/14MDa
Winner Magdalena Neuner of Germany celebrates on the podium
Image: dapd

Germany's Magdalena topped off her biathlon career with a third overall World Cup title on Saturday, after coming fourth in the 10-kilometer pursuit event in Khanty-Mansiysk in Siberia, Russia.

Martin Fourcade of France claimed the men's overall World Cup title, beating Germany's Arnd Pfeiffer by 19.6 seconds.

Domracheva of Belarus won the women's race to take the overall title in the pursuit, securing the trophy known as the Small Crystal Globe in that category.

Neuner, who is set to retire from professional biathlon after her last race on Sunday at just 25 years of age, leads the overall standings with 1,196 points. Belarusian biathlete Darya Domracheva is in second place, 43 points behind.

"The overall World Cup title was my big goal and I'm really happy about it," Neuner said after the race. "The overall World Cup really shows off the best athlete of the winter and it's a great honor. I'm very proud of it."

There is still one race to go, but Neuner cannot be caught up in the overall standings, making her overall World Cup champion before the competition ends on Sunday.

The biathlon World Cup season lasts from November/December through to March, with one major event, the World Championships, which were held in Ruhpolding, Germany, this year.

Magdalena Forsberg of Sweden is the only female biathlete to have won more overall World Cups, claiming the title six times in a row between 1997 and 2002. Neuner won it in 2008, 2010 and 2012.

ng/ncy (dpa, SID, AP)