On December 28, it's biathlon at Schalke again. With the nomination of the first German duo, the anticipation for the next edition of the winter sports classic in the VELTINS Arena continues to grow: Janina Hettich-Walz and Justus Strelow will be competing together for Germany.
Hettich-Walz is celebrating a strong comeback after her maternity leave: she recently won the German championship title in the shortened singles and the following day also won the sprint title at the German Championships on the Arber. The clear message for winter is to carry on where she left off. After all, as runner-up in the individual world championships in Nove Mesto 2024, she has big plans for the upcoming Olympic season.
Born in Schramberg, she will be competing at Schalke for the second time and is one of the most successful German biathletes of recent years. She celebrated her greatest individual success at the 2024 World Championships in Nove Mesto, where she won the silver medal in the 15 km individual event with flawless shooting. She had already won silver with the German women's relay team at the 2021 World Championships and bronze with the relay team in 2024. She was also successful at the European Championships: she won mixed relay silver in 2019, followed by two more silver medals (pursuit, mixed) and bronze in the sprint in 2022.
To date, the athlete has won four national titles (2020 in the individual, 2021 in the sprint and 2025 in both disciplines), one silver and four bronze medals. In the 2023/2024 World Cup, she achieved her greatest success to date with second place in the mass start in Canmore; in total, Hettich-Walz has already stood on the podium eight times with the relay team and celebrated a victory in the single mixed. She also finished in the top ten of the overall World Cup for the first time.
"I was there for the first time two years ago and it was an incredible atmosphere."
Janina Hettich-Walz is now looking forward to her start at Schalke: "I was there for the first time two years ago and it was an incredible atmosphere. I'm all the more pleased that I now have the chance to race in front of this fantastic crowd again. The atmosphere there is unique and something very special. I think I also speak for Justus when I say: we will give everything we have to show a strong performance and offer the spectators an exciting competition."
This refers to Justus Strelow, who is regarded as one of the best shooters in the field - and therefore has the ideal qualifications for the winter sports spectacle in Gelsenkirchen. Especially on the compact arena course, where shooting is often decisive for the race, precision under pressure counts - a strength for which Strelow is known.
This talent also helped him to a strong second place in Schalke in 2024, which the 28-year-old achieved together with his teammate Anna Weidel at his debut in the VELTINS Arena. Strelow, who has established himself on the biathlon scene since his World Cup debut in 2021, went on to achieve major triumphs at the European Championships: he won silver in 2020, gold in 2021 and bronze in the single mixed relay in 2022. He won several relays in the IBU Cup and was overall super sprint champion in 2021/2022.
In the 2023/2024 World Cup, he achieved his first individual podium in Östersund with second place, as well as his first relay victory in the single-mixed in Antholz with Vanessa Voigt. Overall, the German biathlete stood on the podium several times with the relay team and also achieved his best season to date in 2023/2024 with 14th place in the overall World Cup and eighth place in the individual World Cup. At the 2025 World Championships in Lenzerheide, Strelow won bronze in the mixed and single mixed relay - and he is also successful at national level: he became German champion in the pursuit in 2024, followed by further podium places in 2024 and 2025.
"Running and shooting in a soccer stadium - these are real goosebump moments that I can hardly wait for."
Justus Strelow will be returning to the Ruhr region in December: "I'm really looking forward to the event, because it's something special to be able to compete between the years at Schalke against this unique backdrop. It was incredible fun back in 2024 and the competition was also very successful. Of course, I hope that I can achieve a similarly strong result this time together with Janina. Running and shooting in a soccer stadium - those are real goosebump moments that I can hardly wait for."
The second German team will be announced around the time of the World Cup opener. One thing is clear: both German duos have their sights set on the podium. And perhaps 2025 will finally see another victory in the VELTINS Arena - that would be an emotional highlight for the home crowd.
It is precisely this incomparable atmosphere that has made the biathlon at Schalke one of the most popular winter sports events in the world for years. When the arena is filled to the last seat and the fans loudly support the athletes, even the shooting range becomes a test of nerves. 2025 will be shown once again: Biathlon at Schalke is unique - both in sporting and emotional terms.
Secure tickets now
Advance sales for the Biathlon at Schalke 2025 are in full swing: The tickets in various categories are also perfect as gifts and are available at tickets.schalke04.de or tickets.biathlon-aufschalke.de or via the hotline 0180 | 5378873 or 0209 | 9775 1877 and at the Service Center at the FC Schalke 04 office (Ernst-Kuzorra-Weg 1, 45891 Gelsenkirchen).
