Austria is starting with a new, promising team. Simon Eder and Anna Gandler will be competing at the world's biggest biathlon event in the VELTINS Arena in Gelsenkirchen on Saturday, December 28. The duo impress with their experience, coupled with a breath of fresh air.
Simon Eder, who is known in the biathlon scene as a fast shooter, is one of the "old hands" at the bett1.de Biathlon World Team Challenge at the age of 41. 2024 will be his fourth participation in the World Team Challenge. The Austrian has already won several medals at World Championships and Olympic Games, including silver with the relay team at the 2010 Olympic Games and bronze in 2014.
Simon Eder, born on February 23, 1983 in Zell am See, is an Austrian biathlete. He has won several medals at World Championships and Olympic Games, including silver at the 2010 Olympic Games and bronze in 2014, both with the relay team. He is particularly known for his fast shooting, with shooting times of under 20 seconds at times. Eder has also shone in individual races, with several podium places in the World Cup and three individual victories, including a pursuit victory in Oslo in 2014. He comes from a biathlon family - his father Alfred Eder was also a successful biathlete. Over the course of his career, Simon Eder achieved top placings in the overall World Cup rankings and remained at a high level of performance into his late 30s. He is married, has a daughter and serves as an army athlete in the Austrian Armed Forces. In 2009, he was awarded the Silver Medal of Honor for services to the Republic of Austria.
Anna Gandler was by far the most successful Austrian last year. With six top 8 places in the World Cup and the World Championships, she ushered in a new generation in Austria. She first attracted international attention when she won the silver medal in the sprint race at the 2017 Youth World Championships. The daughter of former cross-country skier Markus Gandler, the 23-year-old most recently took first place at the Youth World Championships in 2020 and made her World Cup debut at the end of 2022.
Anna Gandler, an Austrian biathlete, first attracted international attention when she won the silver medal in the sprint race at the 2017 Junior World Championships. In the following years, she competed successfully in the IBU Junior Cup and took part in several Junior European and World Championships. Her bronze medal in the sprint at the Youth Olympic Festival in 2019 was a major success.
Can this combination be dangerous for the German team? That can't be completely ruled out, as Eder still has the younger generation under control: he was the best Austrian in the World Cup in the previous season. Together with team partner Anna, the duo are serious competitors.
Fans and visitors can find all information about the event on the VELTINS-Arena's social media channels: Instagram, Facebook, X and Threads.
Get your tickets now for the biathlon WTC on Saturday, December 28, 2024
