Liv Grete Poiree Former Norwegian biathlete. Date of Birth: 07.07.1974 Country: Norway

1. Biography of Liv-Grete Poirée
2. Reflecting on the World Cup
3. Surprises in Performance
4. Qualities for Success
5. The Magnificent Five
6. Predicting the Favorite

Biography of Liv-Grete Poirée

Liv-Grete Poirée, a former Norwegian biathlete, is a three-time Olympic medalist (bronze in Nagano-98 and two silvers in Salt Lake City-2002) and an 8-time world champion. She is renowned for her achievements in biathlon and currently works as a commentator on Norwegian television.

Reflecting on the World Cup

In an exclusive interview with "SE" magazine, Liv-Grete Poirée discussed the December stages of the World Cup and shared her thoughts on the favorites in the battle for the Big Crystal Globe among women. She found the first three stages to be highly interesting, particularly noting the number of athletes from different countries who stood atop the podium. Poirée emphasized that the dominance of any one country in biathlon is no longer possible, as there are strong athletes in many national teams.

Surprises in Performance

When asked about any particular surprises, Liv-Grete Poirée mentioned Czech biathlete Gabriela Sukalova, who had a remarkable performance in Pokljuka and secured a place on the podium in all individual races. Prior to this, Sukalova had not achieved a single victory, yet she now ranks second in the overall standings of the World Cup. Poirée also highlighted the successful performances of her compatriot Tora Berger in all three stages, stating that it was not unexpected as she witnessed Berger's training and preparation for the season.

Qualities for Success

Discussing the qualities necessary for success in the World Cup, Poirée emphasized the importance of stability. According to her, Tora Berger possesses this quality, as she has made remarkable progress in shooting and consistently finishes among the top five in terms of speed. However, Poirée acknowledged that speed is becoming increasingly crucial in biathlon, with recent victories achieved by athletes who possess the highest level of speed.

The Magnificent Five

Poirée mentioned five athletes who stand out in terms of speed and are potential winners in the World Cup: Miriam Gössner, Kaisa Mäkäräinen, Darya Domracheva, Tora Berger, and Synnøve Solemdal. She noted that when these athletes perform well in shooting, they are unbeatable. Poirée also pointed out that Gössner's shooting has improved this season, resulting in fewer mistakes in standing positions and ultimately leading to medals and her first victory.

Predicting the Favorite

Liv-Grete Poirée expressed her belief that Tora Berger is the favorite in the battle for the Big Crystal Globe. She highlighted Berger's skills in shooting and stability, while acknowledging that Mäkäräinen and Domracheva are not as consistent in this aspect. Poirée also agreed that Solemdal, despite her occasional strong performances, lacks the necessary stability to compete for the overall victory. She concluded by stating that hard work is the key to success and that Solemdal can learn from Berger's stability.