Magdalena Neuner

Magdalena Neuner
Disciplines Biathlon
Club SC Wallgau[1]
Place of birth Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany
Height 165 cm[2]
World Cup debut 13 January 2006[2]
Website magdalena-neuner.de
Olympics
Teams 1 (2010)[2]
Medals 3 (2 gold)
World Championships
Teams 3 (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010)[2]
Medals 8 (7 gold)
World Cup
Seasons 5[2]
Wins 19
Podiums 35
Overall titles 2
Discipline titles 5
Infobox last updated on: 28 March 2010
Olympic medal record
Women's biathlon
Competitor for  Germany
Gold 2010 Vancouver 12.5 km mass start
Gold 2010 Vancouver 10 km pursuit
Silver 2010 Vancouver 7.5 km sprint

Magdalena "Lena" Neuner (born 9 February 1987) is a German professional biathlete. She started biathlon when she was nine years old and won five junior world championship titles from 2004 to 2006. Neuner made her debut in the Biathlon World Cup in 2006 and won her first World Cup race in January 2007. One month later, she claimed three gold medals at her first appearance at the Biathlon World Championships. In the 2007–08 season, Neuner—at the age of 21—became the youngest Overall World Cup winner in the history of the International Biathlon Union (IBU). At the 2008 World Championships, she again won three titles, becoming the youngest six-time world champion. After a less successful 2008–09 season, Neuner participated in her first Winter Olympic Games in 2010, winning the gold medal in both the pursuit and the mass start and silver in the sprint race.

As of March 2010, Neuner has won 19 World Cup races and has achieved 35 podium finishes. As part of the German World Cup team, she has also won seven relay races and two mixed relay events. During four appearances at the Biathlon World Championships, Neuner has claimed seven gold medals and one silver medal. In addition, she has won seven junior world championship titles. Neuner has established herself as one of the fastest cross-country skiers in biathlon, but she is also noted for her volatile shooting performances in the standing position, often at the expense of better results.

Neuner has lived in the Bavarian town of Wallgau since birth. At the age of 16, she joined the German Customs Administration to become a member of the government-funded Customs-Ski-Team. After winning three world championship gold medals in 2007, Neuner emerged as one of her home country's most popular female athletes and was named German Sportswoman of the Year in 2007.

Contents

Early life

Magdalena Neuner was born in the German alpine region of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, the second of four children of bank clerk Paul Neuner and his wife Margit.[3] She has an elder brother Paul, and two younger siblings—her brother Christoph and her sister Anna. Her sister is also an aspiring biathlete who participates in junior competitions and is a member in the youth squad of the Bavarian Ski Association.[4]

Neuner grew up in the small Bavarian town of Wallgau, approximately 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) from Garmisch-Partenkirchen.[5] She started alpine skiing when she was four years old and later tried various other winter sports at her hometown ski club SC Wallgau.[3] At the age of 16, Neuner finished high school (Realschule) in Garmisch-Partenkirchen and decided to pursue a career in biathlon. Her parents were reluctant, but they eventually supported her ambition to become a professional biathlete.[6]

Career

Early career and World Cup debut

Neuner started biathlon when she was nine years old after she had participated in a try out course at her local ski club.[7] She won 29 races at the biathlon Student's Cup of the German Ski Association (DSV),[4] claiming the overall title in her respective age-group for four years in a row from 1999 to 2002.[3] After finishing school, Neuner joined the German Customs Administration in August 2003 to become a member in the government-supported Customs-Ski-Team (Zoll-Ski-Team). She officially holds the rank of Zollhauptwachtmeisterin (head customs officer),[8] although she is a full time professional athlete with no customs obligations. One of her team mates is alpine skiing world champion Maria Riesch.[9]

In December 2003, Neuner won the German Cup for 17-year olds, which led to her appointment for the 2003–04 European Cup competition for juniors.[5] With four wins at European level, Neuner qualified for the 2004 Junior/Youth World Championships in Haute Maurienne, France, where she won the sprint and relay events, as well as a silver medal in the pursuit race.[5] One year later at the 2005 Junior/Youth World Championships in Kontiolahti, Finland, she claimed two silver medals (pursuit and relay), and again won the sprint discipline.[2] With her success at junior level, Neuner at 18 years old, was considered one of Germany's biggest biathlon talents ever. Even before she achieved any notable results at senior level, she had signed a sponsorship deal.[10]

A young woman in multicoloured winter sportswear and with the number 19 on her jersey smiles into the camera, standing in a field covered with snow. A forest and many onlookers can be seen in the background. She holds ski poles in her right hand and has a rifle on her back.
Neuner at the World Cup in Antholz, January 2006

During the 2005–06 season, Neuner made her first appearances in the Biathlon World Cup. Germany's women's national coach Uwe Müßiggang had already considered her for the team two years earlier, however, her parents and her hometown coaches Bernhard Kröll and Herbert Mayer were reluctant to let her start prematurely.[3] On 13 January 2006, Neuner made her debut in the World Cup sprint race in Ruhpolding, Germany, where she substituted for the injured Uschi Disl. Although her first appearance ended unsuccessfully, coming in 41st place,[11] she was appointed for nine more World Cup races for the remainder of the season.[2]

Neuner returned as one of the favourites at the 2006 Junior/Youth World Championships in Presque Isle, Maine, United States, where she won two more titles (pursuit and relay) in addition to a silver medal in the sprint race.[2] She did not participate in the 2006 Winter Olympics for the German team. At the World Cup in Kontiolahti in March 2006, Neuner achieved her first top ten finishes: she was fourth in the sprint and came in ninth in the mass start race.[12][13]

Three world championship titles (2006–07 season)

While she had only competed in ten races during her first World Cup winter, Neuner became a fixture in the German team in the 2006–07 season.[5] She proved to be one of the fastest cross-country skiers in biathlon, and at 19 years old, regularly set the fastest course times.[14][note a] On 5 January 2007, Neuner won her first World Cup event, the sprint race in Oberhof, Germany.[15] Her victory on home soil, before a crowd of 19,000 people, received considerable media attention and put her into the national spotlight overnight.[16] Two days later at the pursuit race, she forgot to reload her rifle after warm-up. She was handed a new magazine during the prone shooting and managed to finish third despite a total of six shooting errors.[17]

A woman in predominately black winter sportswear and a red cap smiles into the camera while biting into a gold medal.
Neuner with one of her gold medals at the 2007 World Championships

Neuner was originally scheduled to compete at the junior world championships in 2007. However, following her first World Cup win, she was instead appointed for the senior World Championships in Antholz, Italy.[5] On 3 February 2007, she won gold in the sprint race, beating Sweden's Anna Carin Olofsson by 2.3 seconds.[18] It was her first world championship event ever and only her second victory at senior level.[note b] One day later, she also claimed the pursuit title, in spite of four shooting errors.[19] Following a 14th place in the mass start, Neuner, alongside Martina Beck, Andrea Henkel and Kati Wilhelm, won the gold medal in the relay race on 11 February 2007.[20] With three titles, Neuner was the championship's most successful athlete and became the youngest triple world champion.[7]

At the end of the season, she continued her successful run with four more World Cup wins. In March 2007, Neuner won the pursuit and mass start races at the World Cup at Holmenkollen in Oslo, Norway,[21][22] and she won the sprint and pursuit events at the season final in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia,[23][24] giving her seven career World Cup wins. She ended her first complete season fourth in the Overall Biathlon World Cup and finished second in the pursuit discipline.[2] In the course of three months, Neuner had emerged from anonymity to become one of Germany's most popular female athletes. At the end of 2007, she had earned an estimated 1.3 million euros through sponsorship and endorsement deals.[25]

Overall World Cup winner (2007–08 season)

A woman cross country skis uphill towards the camera. She wears black winter sportswear and a bright red jersey with the number 13. A second skier behind her can be seen on the right.
Neuner in the yellow jersey of the Overall World Cup leader, March 2008

After missing the podium at the 2007–08 season's first two World Cups, Neuner was part of the winning German relay team in Pokljuka, Slovenia in December 2007.[26] She claimed her eighth World Cup win at the mass start race in Oberhof in January 2008,[27] and later that month won the relay race in Ruhpolding with the German team.[28] Shortly before her 21st birthday, Neuner decided to again compete at the Junior/Youth World Championships, held in Ruhpolding in January 2008—the last time she was eligible to enter.[29] She won gold in both the sprint and the pursuit race, however, withdrew from the individual race to prepare for the senior world championships alongside her German team mates.[30]

Leading up to the 2008 World Championships in Östersund, Sweden, Neuner tried to lower expectations, stating a repeat of last year's performance would be impossible.[31] She failed to defend her titles in the sprint and pursuit races, with shooting errors preventing better results; she finished 17th and sixth respectively.[2] On 12 February 2008, she won the mixed relay event with Sabrina Buchholz, Andreas Birnbacher and Michael Greis to claim her first gold medal.[32] Four days later, she won her second title in the mass start race, beating Norway's Tora Berger by 3.0 seconds.[33] Alongside Martina Beck, Andrea Henkel and Kati Wilhelm, Neuner also claimed gold in the relay race on 17 February 2008.[34] By winning three more titles, she became the youngest six-time world champion, cementing her status as Germany's biggest biathlon star.[35]

In the following World Cups, she won the sprint races in Pyeongchang, South Korea, and in Khanty-Mansiysk—her tenth and eleventh World Cup victories.[36][37] With a second place finish in the penultimate mass start race of the season in Khanty-Mansiysk, Neuner won the 2007–08 Mass Start World Cup.[38] At the season final in Oslo, she also claimed the 2007–08 Sprint World Cup and took over the yellow jersey of the Overall World Cup leader for the first time in her career.[39] In the last race of the season, a ninth place in the mass start ensured Neuner the 2007–08 Overall Biathlon World Cup victory.[40] She was the youngest Overall World Cup winner since the International Biathlon Union was established in 1993.[41][note c]

First setbacks (2008–09 season)

Neuner's preparation for the 2008–09 season was affected by several illnesses. In the summer, she battled an intestinal fungus which forced her to pause training for seven weeks;[42] she later attributed it to pressure of public expectations.[43] In October 2008, she contracted influenza and in November, a bacterial infection caused her to miss two weeks of training.[44] Subsequently, her skiing performances saw a substantial drop at the start of the season. In the first four World Cups, Neuner only achieved three podium finishes. She came in third in both the sprint and the individual race at the season premiere in Östersund,[45][46] and she won the relay race as part of the German team in Hochfilzen, Austria, in December 2008.[47][note d]

A woman on cross country skies wearing a red cap, a white jersey with the number 15 and black trousers skies away from a shooting range covered in snow. Half a dozen people in the background are shooting while lying on the ground.
Neuner leaving the shooting range at the World Cup in Antholz, January 2009.

Following the Christmas break, her skiing times had improved. At the World Cup in Ruhpolding in January 2009, Neuner was part of the winning German relay team.[48] She beat team mate Kati Wilhelm by 0.2 seconds in the Ruhpolding sprint race and also won the following pursuit event, which marked her World Cup wins twelve and thirteen.[49][50] At the World Cup in Antholz, Neuner again missed the podium. She was leading the mass start race by 53.6 seconds before the final shooting, in which she missed all five targets, eventually finishing seventh.[51] This result received much public attention, and she later called it the "total end of the world".[52]

Neuner suffered further setbacks at the 2009 World Championships in Pyeongchang, where she struggled with a cold and a high number of shooting errors.[53] She finished eighth in the sprint, in which she crashed on a downhill slope,[54] and came in eleventh in the pursuit race.[55] She was not appointed for the individual race and could not start in the mixed relay event due to her cold. On 21 February 2009, Neuner claimed the silver medal as part of the German relay team, alongside Martina Beck, Andrea Henkel and Kati Wilhelm.[56] On the last day of the championships, she came in seventh in the mass start race.[57]

At the Olympic rehearsal in Vancouver, Canada in March 2009, Neuner claimed the 2008–09 Individual World Cup, despite never having won a race in that discipline.[58] She also won the Vancouver relay race with the German team,[59] and was second in the sprint, 0.7 seconds behind Sweden's Helena Jonsson.[60] At the season final in Chanty-Mansijsk, Neuner won the pursuit race—her 14th World Cup win.[61] She ended the season fourth in the Overall Biathlon World Cup,[2] which was generally considered disappointing in the media.[7]

Neuner later revealed that due to public expectations and constant media attention, the 2008–09 season had been extremely difficult for her psychologically, and she even briefly contemplated retirement.[62] She started working on "mental training" with a psychologist and cut down her media appearances as much as possible in the summer.[63]

Double Olympic gold medalist (2009–10 season)

Neuner competed at the Summer Biathlon World Championships for the first time in September 2009 when they were held in Oberhof. She only reluctantly agreed to interrupt training and participate in the summer event, which is contested on roller ski, however she went on to win gold in all three competitions (sprint, pursuit and mixed relay).[64] Neuner missed the first World Cup of the 2009–10 season due to a cold in December 2009. She returned at the following races in Hochfilzen, but was still affected by her cold and finished outside the top twenty. Her first podiums of the winter came in Pokljuka, finishing third in the sprint and second in the pursuit race.[65][66] Thereby she secured her Olympic qualification within the German team.[67]

Neuner shortly before crossing the finish line during the Olympic mass start race

Shortly before the Oberhof sprint event in January 2010, Neuner injured her back during warm-up and had to withdraw.[68] She returned in Ruhpolding where she came in third in both the sprint and the mass start race.[69][70] In her first relay race of the season, she dealt a blow to the German team by causing two penalty loops, with Germany finishing fourth eventually.[71] With some top competitors missing in Antholz at the last World Cup before the 2010 Winter Olympics, Neuner won two events—her first individual race as well as the sprint, giving her 16 career World Cup wins.[72][73] She also came in second in the pursuit race, which marked her seventh consecutive podium finish.[74]

Neuner went into her first Winter Olympics in Vancouver with the declared aim of winning a gold medal. On 13 February 2010, she participated in the opening sprint race, which was contested at Whistler Olympic Park in rainy conditions. With one shooting error, Neuner claimed the silver medal, finishing 1.5 seconds behind Slovakia's Anastasiya Kuzmina.[75] She uncharacteristically lost five seconds against the unheralded Slovak on the cross-country course, which lead to speculation of inferior ski preparation in the German media.[76] Three days later, Neuner won gold in the subsequent pursuit race. Despite missing two targets in the standing position, she beat sprint winner Kuzmina by 12.3 seconds.[77] In her third Olympic event, she finished tenth in the individual. She had three shooting mistakes and said it had been difficult for her to immediately get her concentration back after winning her first gold medal only two days earlier. On 21 February 2010, Neuner claimed her second gold of the Games in the mass start. After missing two targets she had been trailing by as much as 29 seconds, but she pushed the pace and a clean final standing shoot allowed her to overtake Russia's Olga Zaitseva on the last lap.[78] After the race Neuner made the surprising announcement not to participate in the relay race, citing mental exhaustion and her desire to give all of her team mates the chance to win a medal. Her withdrawal allowed her friend Martina Beck to start in what was expected to be her last Olympics.[79]

Skiing

A woman in predominantly black winter sportswear, wearing a red cap and a bright red jersey with the number 13, is pictured in a forested area covered with snow. She leans slightly forward and holds ski poles in her hands. There is a green conifer tree behind her and a second person can be seen in the background out of focus on the right.
Neuner skiing uphill at a World Cup race in Trondheim, March 2009.

Neuner is one of the fastest female cross-country skier in biathlon.[7][80] During 48 of her 105 World Cup races (47%), she has set the fastest course time (race time without time spent at the shooting range or in the penalty loop).[note a] In addition, she has been among the top three fastest skiers in 75% of her career races.[2]

In her first World Cup races in the 2005–06 season, Neuner achieved average course times; her best result was being fourth fastest in the pursuit race in Kontiolahti.[81] During her first full season in 2006–07, she finished among the top three fastest skiers in 19 of her 24 races and came in fastest in seven of them. Neuner won the 2007–08 Biathlon World Cup with dominating skiing performances. She set the fastest course time in 19 of her 25 races and was second or third fastest in the remaining six. At the beginning of the 2008–09 season, Neuner had a substantial drop in her skiing times due to a series of illnesses. However, she recovered and set the fastest course time in 14 of the remaining 18 races from January onwards.[2]

Neuner had been a fast cross-country skier from an early age. When she was eight years old, she won the first cross-country skiing competition she entered at her local ski club. At junior level, her lap times at the German Student's Cup were comparable to older or male opponents.[3] At the age of 15, Neuner managed to set the same skiing times as her coeval male training partners. In preparation for the 2006–07 season, Neuner skied 5,300 kilometres (3,300 mi) in training; she increased the volume to 6,000 kilometres (3,700 mi) for the 2007–08 season.[25] Because of her skiing performances, she has often been able to compensate for one or sometimes two or three shooting errors (a penalty loop is 150 metres (160 yd) long and normally takes 21 to 26 seconds).[82]

During three of her 19 World Cup wins (2007 World Championships pursuit, 2008 World Championships mass start, and 2009 Ruhpolding pursuit), Neuner skied three additional penalty loops compared to the second place finisher.[19][33][50] In March 2008, she came in second in the Khanty-Mansiysk mass start race, despite completing five penalty loops.[83] She also reached third place in the Oberhof pursuit in January 2007 with six missed targets.[84] At Neuner's first World Cup victory in the individual discipline in January 2010, she compensated for a total time penalty of two minutes on the cross-country course (caused by two additional shooting errors).[72]

Skiing statistics

A woman stands on cross country skies, pictured from the side. She skies in an upright position leaning slightly forward onto her ski poles. She wears a red cap, a white and green jersey and black trousers and has a rifle on her back. An advertising board with ten people behind it can be seen in the background.
Neuner using the cross-country skating technique, March 2009
Course times 2005–06 season 2006–07 season 2007–08 season 2008–09 season 2009–10 season Career
Fastest 0 / 10 0% 7 / 24 29% 19 / 25 76% 14 / 25 56% 9 / 21 43% 49 / 105 47%
2nd fastest 0 / 10 0% 5 / 24 21% 4 / 25 16% 1 / 25 4% 7 / 21 33% 17 / 105 16%
3rd fastest 0 / 10 0% 7 / 24 29% 2 / 25 8% 3 / 25 12% 1 / 21 5% 13 / 105 12%
Other 10 / 10 100% 5 / 24 21% 0 / 25 0% 7 / 25 28% 4 / 17 19% 26 / 105 25%
*Key:Number of respective times achieved / number of all races entered, percentage. Results in IBU World Cup races, no relay events.[2][85]
**2009–10 season in progress; statistics as of 28 March 2010.

Shooting

A woman in multicoloured winter sportswear, wearing a red cap and a jersey with the number 3, holds a rifle in a horizontal position. Her rifle has advertising on its side, while snow falls in the background.
Neuner shooting at the World Cup in Trondheim, March 2009.

As of March 2010, Neuner has a career shooting accuracy of 76%. Her career average in the prone position is 88%, while her career average in the standing position is 65%. Her shooting results in the prone position are similar to other top contenders; however, her standing position percentage is well below average in the female World Cup field.[2]

With a 78% accuracy, Neuner had her best shooting results during her 2005–06 debut. Her average dropped to 74% in her first complete season in 2006–07. Although she improved to a 76% average during the 2008–09 season, she merely ranked 78th out of 113 competitors that year. Neuner won the 2007–08 Biathlon World Cup with a shooting accuracy of 73%, which is the lowest result for an Overall World Cup winner ever and roughly ten per cent below the previous three winners' averages: Andrea Henkel (84%),[86] Kati Wilhelm (87%)[87] and Sandrine Bailly (81%).[88] In the standing position, Neuner achieved her career best result in the 2008–09 season: a 66% shooting average. However, this remains 26% below the result of the season's Overall World Cup winner, Helena Jonsson.[89]

Neuner's shooting performances have been a regular topic in the German media. At times she has been reluctant to discuss her shooting in interviews and has said the public's fixation on it contributes to the problem.[43] She has insisted her difficulties in the standing position are not due to technical weaknesses but psychological, and her training results are just as good as the results of her team mates.[90] She explained in interviews that she had developed a fear of the standing shooting over time, knowing she had to justify herself after the race if she missed.[91] In 2008, Neuner trained with Bundeswehr shooting coach and former large caliber world champion, Rudi Krenn, and subsequently changed her stance slightly.[92] Since 2009, she has worked with a psychologist, primarily focusing on mental techniques to build her confidence on the shooting range.[63] Her standing position average has improved from 60% to 72% from 2008 to 2010.[2] Neuner has been wearing ear plugs during some of the races in order to better concentrate while shooting.[25] The individual race, which places a high emphasis on shooting, has traditionally been her worst discipline (each shooting error results in a one minute time penalty, instead of a penalty loop).[82]

The sprint race in Khanty-Mansiysk in March 2007 marks Neuner's only World Cup win with a perfect shooting record.[23] She also shot clean on two other occasions, the World Cup sprint in Kontiolahti in March 2006, coming in fourth place,[93] and the World Cup sprint in Östersund in December 2008, finishing third.[45] Her worst shooting performance came in December 2008, with a total of nine shooting errors at the World Cup pursuit race in Hochfilzen.[94] Neuner's costliest shooting occurred during the World Cup mass start race in Antholz in January 2009. After 15 clean shots, she was leading by 53.6 seconds before the final shooting, in which she missed all five targets, eventually dropping to seventh place.[51]

Shooting statistics

A woman in predominantly black winter sportswear, looking concentrated, holds a rifle which points into the sky. She stands on a red mat and a photographer with a large object lens kneels on the right hand side. Parts of a shooting range covered in snow can be seen in the background.
Neuner preparing to shoot in the standing position, January 2009.
Shooting 2005–06 season 2006–07 season 2007–08 season 2008–09 season 2009–10 season Career
Prone position 73 / 80 91% 176 / 205 85% 189 / 218 87% 191 / 223 86% 170 / 187 91% 799 / 913 88%
Standing position 52 / 80 65% 135 / 213 63% 133 / 222 60% 150 / 228 66% 137 / 189 72% 607 / 932 65%
Total 125 / 160 78% 311 / 418 74% 322 / 440 73% 341 / 451 76% 307 / 376 82% 1406 / 1845 76%
*Key:Hits / shots, percentage. Results in all IBU World Cup races including relay events.[2][85]
**2009–10 season in progress; statistics as of 28 March 2010.

Personal life

A blonde woman in casual clothes smilies into the camera. She wears a top with a narrow pattern of black and white strips and stands in a room with traditional Bavarian interior.
Neuner in Wallgau, Germany, May 2009

Neuner has lived in Wallgau, Bavaria, Germany, a small alpine town of 1,400 people, from birth.[5] In 2007, she bought her grandmother's house in Wallgau, where she now lives in her own flat.[6] Neuner plays the harp and owns an enduro motorcycle.[95] She has said she enjoys mountain biking, hiking and swimming during the off-season.[8]

Neuner had been involved in a nearly two-year relationship with Austrian ski technician and former biathlete Franz Perwein, whom she had met during the 2006 Junior/Youth World Championships.[96] Until the autumn of 2009, she then lived in a relationship with DSV chief biathlon technician Björn Weisheit for 19 months.[97] In December 2009, Neuner confirmed a romantic relationship with a school day friend from Wallgau.[98]

In the media

Biathlon is the most popular winter sport in Germany.[99] Each World Cup event is shown live on German television and the January World Cup races in Oberhof, Ruhpolding and Antholz are regularly seen by over five million viewers.[100] Following her three world championship titles in 2007, Neuner became one of Germany's most popular female sport stars. She has regularly been nicknamed "Gold Lena" in the press and is considered one of her home country's biggest media darlings.[79] During her first two years in the spotlight she signed several endorsement deals and claimed numerous awards.[101] Neuner's popularity grew further with her success during the 2010 Winter Olympics. Her second gold medal win in the Olympic mass start race was seen live by 9.75 million television viewers (a 31.5 per cent market share), the most watched programme of the Games in Germany.[102]

Neuner won the Biathlon Award, chosen by the national coaches of the World Cup teams, for Female Athlete of the Year in both 2007 and 2008,[103] and she was awarded the Goldener Ski (Golden Ski), the highest award of the German Ski Association in 2007 and 2008.[104] She was also voted the best biathlete of the 2007–08 season by the Forum Nordicum, a consortium of journalists form twelve countries, beating Norway's Ole Einar Bjoerndalen and Emil Hegle Svendsen.[105] In December 2007, Neuner was chosen as Germany's Sportswoman of the Year by the country's sports journalists.[106] One year later, she came in third, behind Olympic gold medalists Britta Steffen and Britta Heidemann, for the 2008 Sportswoman of the Year award.[107]

Neuner's interest in knitting has often been addressed by the German media and she maintains a knitting website, which includes detailed knitting instructions and a "knitting blog".[106] She has stated that she usually takes knitting equipment on her travels during the season and that knitting is a way for her to relax.[108] In 2007, Neuner declined an offer to appear nude in the German edition of Playboy.[109] She is an ambassador for the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup in Germany.[110] and a member of the board of trustees for Munich's bid to host the 2018 Winter Olympics.[111]

Record

Olympic Games

Neuner accepting her Olympic gold medal for the pursuit race.

Neuner has won two gold medals and one silver medal at the Winter Olympic Games. At her first appearance at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada, she won gold in the pursuit and the mass start event. She also claimed silver in the opening sprint. After winning three medals, she decided not to participate in the concluding relay race.[2]

Event Individual Sprint Pursuit Mass Start Relay
2010 Winter Olympics, Vancouver 10th Silver Gold Gold —

World Championships

Neuner has won eight medals at the Biathlon World Championships—seven gold and one silver. At her debut during the 2007 World Championships in Antholz, Italy, Neuner won three titles (sprint, pursuit and relay). One year later at the 2008 World Championships in Östersund, Sweden, she again claimed three gold medals, winning the mass start, relay and mixed relay events. Neuner did not win a title at the 2009 World Championships in Pyeongchang, South Korea; her best result was the silver medal in the relay event. She won her second mixed relay gold in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia, in 2010.[2]

Event Individual Sprint Pursuit Mass Start Relay Mixed Relay
2007 Antholz, Italy — Gold Gold 14th Gold —
2008 Östersund, Sweden — 17th 6th Gold Gold Gold
2009 Pyeongchang, South Korea — 8th 11th 7th Silver —
2010 Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia Not held in an Olympic season Gold

World Cup

During her first World Cup season, Neuner only appeared in ten races, finishing 34th in the overall standings. In the 2006–07 season, she became a regular in the German team and ended the season in fourth place. Neuner won the Biathlon World Cup for the first time in 2007–08; she also won the sprint and mass start disciplines. She finished the 2008–09 season fourth, winning the individual discipline that year. In the 2009–10 season, Neuner won the overall World Cup for a second time; by winning the pursuit and mass start scores as well, she has claimed each World Cup title at least once.[2]

Season Individual Sprint Pursuit Mass Start Overall
Races Points Position Races Points Position Races Points Position Races Points Position Races Points Position
2005–06 0/3 – – 4/10 65 33rd 4/8 65 30th 2/5 34 30th 10/26 164 34th
2006–07 2/4 34 25th 10/10 285 4th 8/8 283 2nd 4/5 114 10th 24/27 720 4th
2007–08 2/3 33 20th 10/10 326 1st 8/8 232 5th 5/5 186 1st 25/26 818 1st
2008–09 3/4 129 1st 10/10 358 2nd 7/7 231 5th 5/5 146 8th 25/26 891 4th
2009–10 3/4 114 6th 8/10 334 2nd 6/6 256 1st 4/5 216 1st 21/25 933 1st
*Key:Races—number of entered races/all races; Points—won World Cup points; Position—World Cup season ranking.[2]

Overall record

As of March 2010, Neuner has competed in a total of 119 races at senior level, winning 28 of them (a 23.53 win percentage). She has reached 19 personal World Cup wins, which ranks her seventh in IBU history for all-time career victories. In addition, she has won seven relay races and two mixed relay events as part of the German World Cup team. Neuner has claimed at least one win in each discipline of biathlon and has scored World Cup points in all but three of her races.[note b] She has achieved 84 top ten finishes—70.59 per cent of all the races she has entered.[2]

    List of Neuner's World Cup wins                
Result Individual Sprint Pursuit Mass Start Relay Mixed Relay Total
1st Place 1 7 6 5 7 2 28
2nd Place – 2 3 1 3 1 10
3rd Place 1 6 1 2 – – 10
Top 10 7 27 21 15 11 3 84
Points 9 41 32 20 11 3 116
Other 1 1 1 – – – 3
Starts 10 42 33 20 11 3 119
*Results in all IBU World Cup races including relay events. Statistics as of 28 March 2010.[2]

Junior/Youth World Championships

Neuner has won seven gold and four silver medals at the Biathlon Junior/Youth World Championships. With the exception of the individual discipline, she has won a medal in every race she entered. In 2004, at her first junior world championships in Haute Maurienne, France, Neuner won two titles (sprint and relay). One year later, she claimed gold in the sprint race in Kontiolahti, Finland, and in 2006, she again won two titles (pursuit and relay) in Presque Isle, Maine, United States. Neuner did not participate in the 2007 event. She returned to the junior world championships in 2008 when they were held in Ruhpolding, Germany, winning two more gold medals (sprint and pursuit).[2]

Event Individual Sprint Pursuit Relay
2004 Haute Maurienne, France — Gold Silver Gold
2005 Kontiolahti, Finland 4th Gold Silver Silver
2006 Presque Isle, United States 7th Silver Gold Gold
2008 Ruhpolding, Germany — Gold Gold —

Achievements and honours

A woman in black winter sportswear stands on cross country ski in an upright position. She wears a red jersey with the number 5 and holds her ski poles horizontally behind her.
Neuner wearing the red jersey as the leader in the 2007–08 Mass Start World Cup.

International titles

Awards

Notes

a. a f Course times are a measure for a biathlete's skiing performance. They indicate the net skiing time (sum of all lap times), excluding time spent at the shooting range, in the penalty loop or time penalties (individual discipline only).[29]
b. b g World Championship and Olympic results are included in Biathlon World Cup scores; gold medals are recognized as World Cup wins.[29]
c. c Jirina Pelcová was six months younger when she won the Overall World Cup in 1990 still under the UIPMB, not recognized by the IBU.[113]
d. d Germany originally finished second, winners Russia were later disqualified.[47]

References

  1. ↑ Deutscher Skiverband. Magdalena Neuner. Ski-online.de. Accessed 3 February 2010. (German)
  2. ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17 2.18 2.19 2.20 2.21 2.22 2.23 2.24 2.25 2.26 2.27 2.28 2.29 2.30 International Biathlon Union. Magdalena Neuner. IBU Datacenter. Accessed 3 February 2010.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Neuner, Paul and Neuner, Margit. Magdalenas Werdegang. Magdalena-Neuner.de. Accessed 3 February 2010. (German)
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Bayerischer Skiverband. Magdalena Neuner (SC Wallgau). bsv-ski.de. 12 September 2002. Accessed 3 February 2010. (German)
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 Grätz, Harald. Magdalena Neuner (Archived). Microsoft Encarta. Accessed 3 February 2010.(German).
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Wiedemann, Roland. Magdalena Neuner, Biathlon-Star und Profi-Strickerin. Spiegel Online. 30 November 2007. Accessed 3 February 2010. (German)
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 The New York Times Company. Magdalena Neuner – Athlete Biography. NYTimes.com. Accessed 3 February 2010..
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 German Federal Ministry of Finance. Magdalena Neuner. Zoll.de. Accessed 3 February 2010. (German)
  9. ↑ German Federal Ministry of Finance. Maria Riesch. Zoll.de. Accessed 3 February 2010. (German)
  10. ↑ Kreisl, Volker. Die Stubenmusik ist vorbei. Süddeutsche Zeitung. 8 December 2006. Accessed 19 February 2010. (German)
  11. ↑ International Biathlon Union. E.ON Ruhrgas World Cup 5 – Ruhpolding (GER) – Women 7.5 km Sprint. IBU Datacenter. Accessed 3 February 2010.
  12. ↑ International Biathlon Union. E.ON Ruhrgas World Cup 8 – Kontiolahti (FIN) – Women 7.5 km Sprint. IBU Datacenter. Accessed 3 February 2010.
  13. ↑ International Biathlon Union. E.ON Ruhrgas World Cup 8 – Kontiolahti (FIN) – Women 12.5 km Mass Start. IBU Datacenter. Accessed 3 February 2010.
  14. ↑ Blume, Klaus. Fräulein Neuner und das erstaunliche Gespür für Schnee. kicker online. 7 December 2006. Accessed 3 February 2010. (German)
  15. ↑ International Biathlon Union. E.ON Ruhrgas World Cup 4 – Oberhof (GER) – Women 7.5 km Sprint. IBU Datacenter. Accessed 3 February 2010.
  16. ↑ Ruwald, Helen. „Ich dachte, ich fliege“. Der Tagesspiegel. 6 January 2007. Accessed 19 February 2010. (German)
  17. ↑ Sport-Informations-Dienst. Grubben und Bailly jagen Neuner erfolgreich. FOCUS Online. 7 January 2007. Accessed 3 February 2010. (German)
  18. ↑ International Biathlon Union. Biathlon World Championships – Antholz-Anterselva (ITA) – Women 7.5 km Sprint. IBU Datacenter. Accessed 3 February 2010.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 International Biathlon Union. Biathlon World Championships – Antholz-Anterselva (ITA) – Women 10 km Pursuit. IBU Datacenter. Accessed 3 February 2010.
  20. ↑ International Biathlon Union. Biathlon World Championships – Antholz-Anterselva (ITA) – Women's 4x6 km Relay. IBU Datacenter. Accessed 3 February 2010.
  21. ↑ International Biathlon Union. E.ON Ruhrgas World Cup 8 – Oslo Holmenkollen (NOR) – Women 10 km Pursuit. IBU Datacenter. Accessed 3 February 2010.
  22. ↑ International Biathlon Union. E.ON Ruhrgas World Cup 8 – Oslo Holmenkollen (NOR) – Women 12.5 km Mass Start. IBU Datacenter. Accessed 3 February 2010.
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 International Biathlon Union. E.ON Ruhrgas World Cup 9 – Khanty-Mansiysk (RUS) – Women 7.5 km Sprint. IBU Datacenter. Accessed 3 February 2010.
  24. ↑ International Biathlon Union. E.ON Ruhrgas World Cup 9 – Khanty-Mansiysk (RUS) – Women 10 km Pursuit. IBU Datacenter. Accessed 3 February 2010.
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 25.2 Wolfsgruber, Axel. „Wie eine echte Königin“. Focus. 49/2007. Accessed 3 February 2010. (German)
  26. ↑ International Biathlon Union. E.ON Ruhrgas World Cup 3 – Pokljuka (SLO) – Women's 4x6 km Relay. IBU Datacenter. Accessed 3 February 2010.
  27. ↑ International Biathlon Union. E:ON Ruhrgas World Cup 4 – Oberhof (GER) – Women 12.5 km Mass Start. IBU Datacenter. Accessed 3 February 2010.
  28. ↑ International Biathlon Union. E.ON Ruhrgas World Cup 5 – Ruhpolding (GER) – Women's 4x6 km Relay. IBU Datacenter. Accessed 3 February 2010.
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 29.2 International Biathlon Union. IBU Event and Competition Rules. Biathlonworld. Accessed 3 February 2010.
  30. ↑ Deutsche Presse-Agentur. Neuner holt zweimal Gold. ARD.de. Accessed 27 January 2008. Accessed 19 Feburar 2010. (German)
  31. ↑ Gross, Alexandra. Magdalena Neuner und ihre schwierigste Saison. WELT Online. 1 Dezember 2007. Accessed 19 February 2010. (German)
  32. ↑ International Biathlon Union. World Championships – Oestersund (SWE) – Mixed 2 x 6 + 2 x 7.5 km Relay. IBU Datacenter. Accessed 3 February 2010.
  33. ↑ 33.0 33.1 International Biathlon Union. World Championships – Oestersund (SWE) – Women 12.5 km Mass Start. IBU Datacenter. Accessed 3 February 2010.
  34. ↑ International Biathlon Union. World Championships – Oestersund (SWE) – Women's 4x6 km Relay. IBU Datacenter. Accessed 3 February 2010.
  35. ↑ Weiser, Michael. Gewinner der Woche. Bayernkurier. 23 February 2008. Accessed 3 February 2010. (German)
  36. ↑ International Biathlon Union. E.ON Ruhrgas World Cup 7 – Pyeong Chang (KOR) – Women 7.5 km Sprint. IBU Datacenter. Accessed 3 February 2010.
  37. ↑ International Biathlon Union. E.ON Ruhrgas World Cup 8 – Khanty-Mansiysk (RUS) – Women 7.5 km Sprint. IBU Datacenter. Accessed 3 February 2010.
  38. ↑ International Biathlon Union. E.ON Ruhrgas World Cup 8 – Khanty-Mansiysk (RUS) – Women 12.5 km Mass Start. IBU Datacenter. Accessed 3 February 2010.
  39. ↑ International Biathlon Union. E.ON Ruhrgas World Cup 9 – Oslo Holmenkollen (NOR) – Women 7.5 km Sprint. IBU Datacenter. Accessed 3 February 2010.
  40. ↑ International Biathlon Union. E.ON Ruhrgas World Cup 9 – Oslo Holmenkollen (NOR) – Women 12.5 km Mass Start. IBU Datacenter. Accessed 3 February 2010.
  41. ↑ Associated Press. World Cup Affects an American Accent. The Washington Post. 17 March 2008. Accessed 3 February 2010.
  42. ↑ Klein, Tom. German men are trim, women ailing. Biathlonworld. 25 November 2008. Accessed 3 February 2010.
  43. ↑ 43.0 43.1 Wolfsgruber, Axel. „An Pleiten wächst man“. Focus. 9 February 2009. Accessed 3 February 2010. (German)
  44. ↑ Rheinische Post. Magdalena Neuner fährt nicht ins Trainingslager. RP Online. 19 November 2008. Accessed 3 February 2010. (German)
  45. ↑ 45.0 45.1 International Biathlon Union. E.ON Ruhrgas IBU World Cup – Oestersund (SWE) – Women 7.5 km Sprint. IBU Datacenter. Accessed 3 February 2010.
  46. ↑ International Biathlon Union. E.ON Ruhrgas IBU World Cup – Oestersund (SWE) – Women 15 km Individual. IBU Datacenter. Accessed 3 February 2010.
  47. ↑ 47.0 47.1 International Biathlon Union. E.ON Ruhrgas IBU World Cup – Hochfilzen (AUT) – Women's 4x6 km Relay. IBU Datacenter. Accessed 3 February 2010.
  48. ↑ International Biathlon Union. E.ON Ruhrgas IBU World Cup – Ruhpolding (GER) – Women's 4x6 km Relay. IBU Datacenter. Accessed 3 February 2010.
  49. ↑ International Biathlon Union. E.ON Ruhrgas IBU World Cup – Ruhpolding (GER) – Women 7.5 km Sprint. IBU Datacenter. Accessed 3 February 2010.
  50. ↑ 50.0 50.1 International Biathlon Union. E.ON Ruhrgas IBU World Cup – Ruhpolding (GER) – Women 10 km Pursuit. IBU Datacenter. Accessed 3 February 2010.
  51. ↑ 51.0 51.1 Palme, Jürgen. Iourieva profits from Neuner´s disaster. Biathlonworld. 25 January 2009. Accessed 3 February 2010.
  52. ↑ Mey, Alexander. Neuner: "Das war totaler Weltuntergang". Spox.com. 9 February 2009. Accessed 19 February 2010. (German)
  53. ↑ Deutsche Presse-Agentur. Bangen um Biathlon-Star: "Schnupfennase" stoppt Neuner. Frankfurter Rundschau. 19 February 2009. Accessed 3 February 2010. (German)
  54. ↑ International Biathlon Union. IBU Biathlon World Championships – Pyeong Chang (KOR) – Women 7.5 km Sprint. IBU Datacenter. Accessed 3 February 2010.
  55. ↑ International Biathlon Union. IBU Biathlon World Championships – Pyeong Chang (KOR) – Women 10 km Pursuit. IBU Datacenter. Accessed 3 February 2010.
  56. ↑ International Biathlon Union. IBU Biathlon World Championships – Pyeong Chang (KOR) – Women's 4x6 km Relay. IBU Datacenter. Accessed 3 February 2010.
  57. ↑ International Biathlon Union. IBU Biathlon World Championships – Pyeong Chang (KOR) – Women 12.5 km Mass Start. IBU Datacenter. Accessed 3 February 2010.
  58. ↑ International Biathlon Union. E.ON Ruhrgas IBU World Cup – Vancouver (CAN) – Women's 15 km Individual. IBU Datacenter. Accessed 3 February 2010.
  59. ↑ International Biathlon Union. E.ON Ruhrgas IBU World Cup – Vancouver (CAN) – Women's 4x6 km Relay. IBU Datacenter. Accessed 3 February 2010.
  60. ↑ International Biathlon Union. E.ON Ruhrgas IBU World Cup – Vancouver (CAN) – Women 7.5 km Sprint. IBU Datacenter. Accessed 3 February 2010.
  61. ↑ International Biathlon Union. E.ON Ruhrgas IBU World Cup – Khanty-Mansiysk (RUS) – Women 10 km Pursuit. IBU Datacenter. Accessed 3 February 2010.
  62. ↑ Dunker, Robert. Silber in der Tasche, Gold im Blick. WELT Online. 15 February 2010. Accessed 15 February 2010. (German)
  63. ↑ 63.0 63.1 Futterman, Matthew. The Skier Who Can't Shoot Straight. Wall Street Journal. 16 February 2010. Accessed 16 February 2010.
  64. ↑ International Biathlon Union. Summer Biathlon World Championships – Skiroll. IBU Datacenter. Accessed 3 February 2010.
  65. ↑ International Biathlon Union. E.ON Ruhrgas IBU World Cup – Pokljuka (SLO) – Women 7.5 km Sprint. IBU Datacenter. Accessed 3 February 2010.
  66. ↑ International Biathlon Union. E.ON Ruhrgas IBU World Cup – Pokljuka (SLO) – Women 10 km Pursuit. IBU Datacenter. Accessed 3 February 2010.
  67. ↑ Deutsche Presse-Agentur. Endlich oben. Der Tagesspiegel. 20 December 2009. Accessed 19 February 2010. (German)
  68. ↑ Deutsche Presse-Agentur. Neuner wieder fit - Biathleten heiß auf Ruhpolding. Zeit.de. 12 January 2010. Accessed 19 February 2010. (German)
  69. ↑ International Biathlon Union. E.ON Ruhrgas IBU World Cup – Ruhpolding (GER) – Women 7.5 km Sprint. IBU Datacenter. Accessed 3 February 2010.
  70. ↑ International Biathlon Union. E.ON Ruhrgas IBU World Cup – Ruhpolding (GER) – Women 12.5 km Mass Start. IBU Datacenter. Accessed 3 February 2010.
  71. ↑ International Biathlon Union. E.ON Ruhrgas IBU World Cup – Ruhpolding (GER) – Women 4 x 6 km Relay. IBU Datacenter. Accessed 3 February 2010.
  72. ↑ 72.0 72.1 International Biathlon Union. E.ON Ruhrgas IBU World Cup – Antholz-Anterselva (ITA) – Women 15 km Individual. IBU Datacenter. Accessed 3 February 2010.
  73. ↑ International Biathlon Union. E.ON Ruhrgas IBU World Cup – Antholz-Anterselva (ITA) – Women 7.5 km Sprint. IBU Datacenter. Accessed 3 February 2010.
  74. ↑ International Biathlon Union. E.ON Ruhrgas IBU World Cup – Antholz-Anterselva (ITA) – Women 10 km Pursuit. IBU Datacenter. Accessed 3 February 2010.
  75. ↑ Agence France-Press. [1], Vancouver2010.com. 13 February 2010. Accesed 15 February 2010.
  76. ↑ Dunker, Robert. Hat das deutsche Team Neuners Gold verwachst?. WELT Online. 14 February 2010. Accessed 15 February 2010. (German)
  77. ↑ Futterman, Matthew. Germany's Neuner Wins Women's Biathlon Pursuit. Wall Street Journal. 16 February 2010. Accessed 16 February 2010.
  78. ↑ Karen, Mattas. Neuner wins women's 12.5K mass start at Olympics. The Washington Post. 21 February 2010. Accessed 23 February 2010.
  79. ↑ 79.0 79.1 Vignal, Patrick. Olympics - Biathlon - Germany's Neuner skips treble chance. Reuters. 22 February 2010. Accessed 23 February 2010.
  80. ↑ Palme, Jürgen. "We're pretty drained anyways" – Interview with Magdalena Neuner. Biathlonworld. 21 January 2009. Accessed 3 February 2010.
  81. ↑ International Biathlon Union. E.ON Ruhrgas World Cup 8 – Kontiolahti (FIN) – Women 10 km Pursuit. IBU Datacenter. Accessed 3 February 2010.
  82. ↑ 82.0 82.1 International Biathlon Union. The individual Competition. Biathlonworld. Accessed 3 February 2010.
  83. ↑ International Biathlon Union. E.ON Ruhrgas World Cup 8 – Khanty-Mansiysk (RUS) – Women 12.5 km Mass Start. IBU Datacenter. Accessed 3 February 2010.
  84. ↑ International Biathlon Union. E.ON Ruhrgas World Cup 8 – Oberhof (GER) – Women 10 km Pursuit. IBU Datacenter. Accessed 3 February 2010.
  85. ↑ 85.0 85.1 Biathlon Federation of Ukraine. Neuner Magdalena. Biathlon.com.ua. Accessed 3 February 2010.
  86. ↑ International Biathlon Union. Andrea Henkel. IBU Datacenter. Accessed 3 February 2010.
  87. ↑ International Biathlon Union. Kati Wilhelm. IBU Datacenter. Accessed 3 February 2010.
  88. ↑ International Biathlon Union. Sandrine Bailly. IBU Datacenter. Accessed 3 February 2010.
  89. ↑ International Biathlon Union. Helena Jonsson. IBU Datacenter. Accessed 3 February 2010.
  90. ↑ Janz, Thomas & Kunze, Fabian. Neuner: "Weiß, dass ich es drauf habe". Yahoo! Eurosport. 10 February 2010. Accessed 20 February 2010. (German)
  91. ↑ Franke, Viktoria. Interview mit Magdalena Neuner. Netzathleten.de. 21 September 2009. Accessed 20 February 2010. (German)
  92. ↑ Rheinische Post. Neuner nimmt jetzt Nachhilfe. RP Online. 26 January 2009. Accessed 3 February 2010. (German)
  93. ↑ International Biathlon Union. E.ON Ruhrgas World Cup 8 – Kontiolahti (FIN) – Women 7.5 km Sprint. IBU Datacenter. Accessed 3 February 2010.
  94. ↑ International Biathlon Union. E.ON Ruhrgas IBU World Cup – Hochfilzen (AUT) – Women 10 km Pursuit. IBU Datacenter. Accessed 3 February 2010.
  95. ↑ Börlein, Daniel. Rumbrettern und abrocken. SPOX.com. 29 November 2007. Accessed 3 February 2010. (German)
  96. ↑ Bunte. Magdalena Neuner: Beziehungs-Aus nach fast zwei Jahren. Bunte Online. 9 January 2008. Accessed 3 February 2010. (German)
  97. ↑ Rheinische Post. Neuner liebt ihren Wachser. RP Online. 13 February 2008. Accessed 3 February 2010. (German)
  98. ↑ Windisch, Michael & Felske, Thorsten. Neuner: Neue Liebe & Olympia-Quali. Bild am Sonntag. 19 December 2008. Accessed 3 February 2010. (German)
  99. ↑ Dunker, Robert. "Deutschland-Cup" mit ausländischer Beteiligung. WELT Online. 12 January 2008. Accessed 3 February 2010. (German)
  100. ↑ Weis, Manuel. Dank Biathlon und Handball: Starke ARD. Quotenmeter.de. 25 January 2010. Accessed 3 February 2010. (German)
  101. ↑ Stracke, Peter. Magdalena Neuner im Porträt. sueddeutsche.de. 22 December 2007. Accessed 3 February 2010. (German)
  102. ↑ Mantel, Uwe. Bestwert: Fast zehn Mio. Zuschauer beim Biathlon. DWDL.de. 22 February 2010. Accessed 19 February 2010. (German)
  103. ↑ 103.0 103.1 103.2 Franke, Viktoria. Biathlon-Award 2008: Sieger stehen bereits fest. Biathlon-online.de. 12 December 2008. Accessed 3 February 2010. (German)
  104. ↑ 104.0 104.1 Deutscher Skiverband. Magdalena Neuner. Ski-online.de. 21 October 2008. Accessed 3 February 2010. (German)
  105. ↑ 105.0 105.1 Forum Nordicum. Magdalena Neuner und Lukas Bauer in der Gunst der Kollegen vorn.. Forum-nordicum.info. Accessed 3 February 2010. (German)
  106. ↑ 106.0 106.1 National Broadcasting Company. Magdalena Neuner – Biography. NBCOlympics.com. Accessed 3 February 2010."
  107. ↑ Sportlern des Jahres. Sportler des Jahres: Punkteliste Sportlerin 2008. Sportler-des-Jahres.de. Accessed 3 February 2010. (German)
  108. ↑ Biathlon2b Redaktion. "It's me – Magdalena Neuner". biathlon2b.com. 24 September 2007. Accessed 3 February 2010. (German)
  109. ↑ Mölter, Joachim. Plötzlich mit Gefolge. Süddeutsche Zeitung. 10 February 2007. Accessed 3 February 2010. (German)
  110. ↑ Organising Committee Germany. OC presents 'First XI for 2011'. FIFA.com. 30 September 2008. Accessed 3 February 2010.
  111. ↑ Magdalena Neuner | München 2018 | Bewerbungsgesellschaft München 2018 GmbH. Muenchen2018.org. Accessed 3 February 2010. (German)
  112. ↑ Sportlern des Jahres. Sportler des Jahres: Sportlerinnen des Jahres seit 1947. Sportler-des-Jahres.de. Accessed 3 February 2010. (German)
  113. ↑ International Biathlon Union. Jirina Pelcova. IBU Datacenter. Accessed 3 February 2010.

Further reading

English

German

External links

Awards
Preceded by
Kati Wilhelm		 German Sportswoman of the Year
2007		 Succeeded by
Britta Steffen
Preceded by
 Andrea Henkel (GER)		 Women's Biathlon World Cup winner
2008		 Succeeded by
 Helena Jonsson (SWE)
Preceded by
 Helena Jonsson (SWE)		 Women's Biathlon World Cup winner
2010		 Succeeded by
Incumbent
Olympic champions in women's biathlon – 12.5 km mass start

2006: Anna Carin Olofsson (SWE)  · 2010: Magdalena Neuner (GER)
Olympic champions in women's biathlon – 10 km pursuit

2002: Olga Pyleva (RUS)  · 2006: Kati Wilhelm (GER)  · 2010: Magdalena Neuner (GER)