why Lena Häcki will shine at the Lenzerheide Worlds

Sixth in the World Cup last winter (her best career result), Lena Häcki, who is gradually establishing herself among the best, begins a new biathlon season this Saturday, focused on the World Championships in Lenzerheide in Switzerland. Offbeat preparation, mental coaching: she puts everything in place to succeed on a Grisons track that matches her qualities. And it is not his new functions in politics that will prevent him from shining.

Rainer Sommerhalder

Lena Häcki is not only the best biathlete in the country. She fulfills other roles. When the Swiss group was at rock bottom, during the Olympic season, the 29-year-old young woman committed herself body and soul to improving the atmosphere within the team. And recently, Häcki has been involved in politics. She was elected to the Athletes’ Commission of the International Biathlon Union (IBU) in the spring. The native of Engelberg had already been a candidate two years ago, without success.

Why this interest in sports policy? And isn’t it risky to accept such a mission, just before the World Championships in Switzerland, which represent the high point of one’s career? The skier from central Switzerland, who lives in Ruhpolding in Germany with her partner Marco Gross, sees no problem with this.

Interests to defend

The sixth overall in the World Cup last season says she has a long-standing commitment to athletes. “These things interest me a lot. I find it extremely important that athletes are represented politically. Many of my competitors aren’t really aware of everything that’s going on. A lot of things are decided because of money,” she says.

Lena Häcki did not stay idly in her new position for long. Shortly after his election, the IBU decided to send the world’s best to the end of the start list during the sprints and individuals. As many World Cup stages take place at low altitude, where the tracks quickly deteriorate as athletes pass by, due to the heat, the highest ranked overall have until now started at the front of the list. They therefore rejected this development aimed at meeting the needs of television. But the audiences had the last word.

Not yet the very great shape

When the World Cup begins on Saturday in Kontiolahti in Finland, Lena Häcki will leave confident after an enjoyable summer training. But she’s not yet in top form. The experience of last winter, during which the Obwalden celebrated two victories on the circuit, but experienced a drop in performance at the Worlds, must definitely not be repeated. This is why she deliberately delayed her rise to power, in order to properly approach the event of a lifetime: the World Championships in Switzerland, near Lenzerheide (February 12-23).

Lena Häcki is aware of the importance of these World Championships at home. But she also says that she hasn’t turned everything upside down in her preparation for these two weeks of competition either. It would be too risky. Despite the distance and world-class infrastructure in Ruhpolding where she lives, Häcki, for example, carried out all her preparation in the company of other Swiss women, as usual. Team spirit is sacred to her. “The group is living well. The dynamic is good,” she said ahead of the season premiere in Scandinavia.

But has the best winter of his career increased his own demands? Lena Häcki answers yes and no. She wants to keep realistic goals and not put even more pressure on herself. “But as far as the shooting quality is concerned, I expect confirmation from myself,” she specifies.

See the good side of things

The Swiss also discussed a lot about the upcoming season and the Worlds at home with her mental coach: Manuela Ciotto. She works with her on visualization techniques. Häcki can thus imagine himself on the Roland Arena shooting range in racing configuration, with an audience committed to his cause and reacting to each of his balls.

The biathlete considers the profile of the Lenzerheide track to be an advantage: “I am capable of suffering and this quality is in demand here.” She also considers the descent towards the shooting range difficult, but again beneficial. “Some will arrive with more adrenaline than me,” she said with enthusiasm and seeming happy and motivated at the idea of ​​experiencing a special season, which could well be marked by a world medal.