Biathlon : preparation away from the Austrian national team
The last three years have been a crossroads for Felix Leitner. Repeated illnesses, persistent pain, seasons cut short… and, in the spring of 2025, another disappointment: the Austrian Ski Federation (ÖSV) has not selected him for the national team. But the 28-year-old Tyrolean refused to give up.
At the end of August, during the City Biathlon Dresden, Felix Leitner saw his first glimmer of hope. His fifth place showed that he could still compete with the best. “I didn’t know where I stood before the competition. I’ve had back problems in recent weeks, so I’m pleased to have put in a good performance. It proves that I’ve been training well,” he told Biathlonworld.
After three prematurely interrupted winters and immense frustration, this race was a small step forward. ” I was at my lowest ebb because I was used to a different level and I couldn’t understand why my performances were so bad,” he says.
Back to basics with Florian Steirer
To bounce back, the Austrian has chosen to return to his home town of Mils (Austria), where he is once again training with Florian Steirer, his teenage coach. “I trust Florian. We’re not just colleagues, we’re friends. With Stefan Maier, who looks after shooting, we form a real unit,” he explains. A relationship that is all the more precious given that he felt let down by his federation: “I didn’t understand the ÖSV’s decision,” he admits.
Without the logistical support of the national team, the biathlete has to organise everything: camps, training sessions, daily life. “During the camps, we stay in a holiday flat, cook what we want, and structure our days as we see fit. It brings us closer together and gives me a lot of freedom,” he says.
In the short term, Felix Leitner is aiming for selection for the World Cup so that he can return to the slopes ofÖstersund (Sweden) this winter. ” My aim is to get back to my old level of performance”, he sums up, without setting himself any specific places.
The Olympic Games in Milan/Cortina remain a dream, but it’s the 2028 World Championships in Hochfilzen (Austria) that he’s most looking forward to. “It would be a huge home goal. But above all, I want to get back to enjoying biathlon,” he says.
Read also
