Lisa Hauser ends her biathlon career: salute to a champion shooter

A woman who has nothing to do with the Streif and the Ganslernhang has made it among all these ski heroes: Lisa-Theresa Hauser.

The 32-year-old is the only biathlete whose name adorns a gondola on the Hahnenkammbahn: Hauser received this trophy as a member of the Kitzbühel Ski Club (KSC) for her world championship title in 2021 in the mass start competition. It is to date the most significant success for Austrian women’s biathlon.

Solo entertainer

At least for Lisa-Theresa Hauser there will be no more trophies. At the World Cup final at Holmenkollen in Oslo, the Tyrolean says goodbye to top-class sport. At 32 years old, Hauser wouldn’t really count as old news, However, the many years in the World Cup have taken their toll. Mentally and physically.

“It wasn’t a decision that was made overnight, because biathlon has been a big part of my life for many years. But in the last few years it has simply taken a lot of energy to deal with the stress and pressure and then be able to deliver in the races,” said the 32-year-old.

Lisa-Theresa Hauser had to hold up the flags of the red-white-red women’s biathlon sport alone for many years. And she has been carrying out this responsible task ever since World Cup debut in 2012 more than fair.

Trophy collector

While the Austrian men continued to go downhill, Lisa-Theresa Hauser took giant steps closer to the top of the world and finally really took off in the 2020/’21 season. This winter she not only won World Championship gold in the mass start in Pokljuka, but also won silver in the pursuit and mixed relay. Not to forget the overall victory in the individual World Cup.

“At some point I learned to use my skills when it’s important,” said Lisa-Theresa Hauser in the KURIER interview. She followed the motto: The woman is herself. “I’ve always tried to absorb a lot and get a lot of opinions and then take the right path for myself. I’ve always listened a lot to the way my body feels.”

Own ways

In the last few seasons, Hauser even went his own way and joined the Swiss biathlon team led by Pinzgau head coach Sandra Flunger. The experienced Tyrolean paid for the training herself and invested a considerable sum in it.

This decision turned out to be a direct hit, as shown not least by Hauser’s victory this season in the pursuit race in Östersund. This means that the 32-year-old belongs to the illustrious circle of biathletes who have celebrated World Cup victories in all four disciplines (individual, sprint, mass start, pursuit)..

Famous Oops

The successful start to this Olympic winter fueled expectations for the Games in Milan-Cortina. The Olympic medal she was aiming for was also denied her on her fourth attempt.

Hauser also became famous with an oops when she aimed at the wrong targets on her way to a medal at the 2019 World Cup. “Maybe I had to take this path. Maybe I had to realize that sport can sometimes really hurt.”