Biathlon: Top 10 target for Hannah Auchentaller and Rebecca Passler
23-year-old Italians Hannah Auchentaller and Rebecca Passler are friends in life. Both based in Antholz (Italy), they train (very) regularly on the transalpine stadium that will become Olympic in a few months’ time at the Milan/Cortina 2026 Games.
Members of their national team for several winters now, they each have dozens of World Cup starts to their name: 31 for Hannah Auchentaller, who will also be world champion in the relay in 2023, and 46 for Rebecca Passler. But they are struggling to establish themselves in the top places, with no top 10s between them and a meagre top 15.
The Italians, who will kick off their season in Kontiolahti (Finland) at the end of November, have been working hard throughout their preparations to reach this milestone. “A place in the top 10 is a possible goal for me, Hannah Auchentaller told specialist website SportNews.bz. To do that, I need to stay fit, which will give me confidence.”
Rebecca Passler, who is coming off an ideal summer without illness or injury, is hoping to have improved her level on the cross-country skis. “I think I’ve become faster this summer, she explains. I’d like to be in the top 15 this year, but I wouldn’t rule out a place in the top 10.”
- With Lisa Vittozzi, Dorothea Wierer and Tommaso Giacomel: Italy (already) unveils its selection for the Kontiolahti World Cup
- Antholz: Tommaso Giacomel and Rebecca Passler Italian mass-start champions
- Italian Championships in Antholz: Rebecca Passler, double winner, and Lukas Hofer take gold in the sprint
- World relay champions Hannah Auchentaller, Samuela Comola, Lisa Vittozzi and Dorothea Wierer receive Italian sport’s highest honour
- IBU Cup d’Arber: Hannah Auchentaller wins the first sprint, Noémie Remonnay just off the podium
- Soldier Hollow: Hannah Auchentaller, Tereza Vobornikova, Selina Grotian and Otto Invenius return to the trail of their exploits
