Whistler --
They are loose. They are hot. They are ready. Germany's Winter Olympic athletes dream about equal on the first weekend of a big bang start to the Games.
Even on Saturday night at 22 Clock (live on ARD) Raising the alarm: 7.5 kilometers biathlon sprint for women.
Whether in the Magdalena Neuner Weiberfastnacht EXPRESS gift-Pappnase really brings happiness? She goes full steam ahead in the first race: "My dream is clear: Olympic victory!"
But the keenest competition comes from his own camp. Kati Wilhelm, Andrea Henkel and Simone Hauswald - they all have legitimate medal hopes, would make the Canada-bang perfect start. Dr. Thomas Bach, DOSB President: "Our expectations are high, as they always were."
Germany wants to defend, of course, number 1 in the medal standings. In Turin in 2006, there were a total of 29 medals (11 gold, 12 silver, 6 bronze). Only five Olympic champion celebrated the biathletes.
Nine and Co. want to repeat the feat. And it starts as a super fast runner, perhaps even in relay at the end of games. "If everything fits, I'm with you. Let's see. "
On Sunday during prime time (20.15 clock, ZDF) it is the men's race at the biathlon sprint about 10 kilometers. The Norwegian superstar Ole Einar Bjoerndalen (36) for EXPRESS: "Of course I have Michael Greis on the bill. He is back in top form. "Geriatric (33 years, 3x gold in Turin in 2006) but with Arnd Peiffer (22) still a young fellow with gold potential on its side.
On Saturday at least the old man pushes women's team, all thumbs, hoping with him in gold: "It would take the pressure off the team, then we are no longer forced."
