Olympic biathlon champion Denise Herrmann-Wick and European steeplechase champion Gesa Krause, both from Germany, have called for a better balance between top-level sport and family life.

“There are no structures in place for this on the part of the association. Everything that concerns my family, my child, my training schedule and everything else is actually my responsibility,” Krause told the Pizza&Pommes podcast.

Krause, 33, became a mother in 2023, while Hermann-Wick had a daughter in 2024 and just recently had her second child. The 36-year-old ended her biathlon career in 2023.

“I think the topic was still very unfamiliar a few years ago. Everyone probably has a bit of apprehension when it comes to it. It’s also a male-dominated landscape. In other countries, things have been running much better,” Hermann-Wick said.

Former ski star Felix Neureuther, who co-hosts the podcast, spoke about the difficulties his wife Miriam faced after her maternity leave.

“It would have been an incredible organizational feat for Miri or for us to manage that. To be honest, we feel that the issue wasn’t taken as seriously as we would have liked,” Neureuther said.

His wife, a former biathlete and cross-country skier, ended her career some two years after the birth of their daughter.

dpa