Andrea Henkel: The great German biathlete

In the world of biathlon infrequently are examples of sports longevity, like Andrea Henkel. First debuted as part of the German national team at the age of 17 years old in 1994, she continued her active career until recently. Athlete won an incredible number of awards at the world championships, the Olympic Games. And Andrea has always been characterized by a real character and will to win no matter what. Numerous injuries also prevented her full potential.

On skis after my sister

In 1977 in the GDR, in the small town of Ilmenau, Andrea Henkel was born. Biathlon has become part of her life in many ways thanks to her older sister Manuela. She went in for sports in the ski and biathlon complex Thuringia and led back and his little sister.

Also, as Manuela, she first engaged in skiing. However, once in 1988 in the Olympic program did include women's biathlon, Andrea Henkel switched to this more dynamic and spectacular sport.

Not just a girl's got to master the heavy rifle. On the children's national championship, Andrea Henkel was able to knock out a target of ten only, but thanks to the excellent course on skis, she was able to take the bronze medal.

The Rise of the young biathletes

In 1994, the beginning of the performance athlete in junior competitions. Andrea Henkel on the move beginning to shine on the track and in his first season, was able to enter the top five of the best in the season. This forced the coaches to draw on her own opinion, and they bring it to participate at the World Cup. By the 1998-1999 season, Henkel has firmly a part of the German national team. The first full season was for the young biathletes just great - a place in the top twenty in the season.

Not bad, she ran and shoot, and at its first World Cup. In the following two seasons, the German biathlete Andrea Henkel continues to progress. The first medal at the world championships she takes in 2000, becoming the second in the relay team. After a year in Slovenia, she repeats this achievement.

In the 2001-2002 season followed by numerous prizes at the World Cup, and as a result - 5th final place. At the same time Andrea was ahead of his teammates, became the best German athlete.

The first Olympic season was not easy for a girl. Initially, the biathlon, she has severe colds and missed a few starts. However, her will and perseverance have made the business. Henkel was able to recover for the Olympics of 2002 and made it perfectly, winning the individual race and relay race.

A difficult period of

health problems can lick the career of the most successful athlete. After a triumphant Olympics Andrea Henkel comes a black stripe, which lasts for three seasons. The results are not impressive, in the final minutes of the World Cup Henkel even gets into the top ten.

The only glimpse of the former glory of becoming the World Cup in Hochfilzen, where she brilliantly held individual race and became the first.

again to return to the previous level biathlete has become by 2005. The peak came in the form of the Turin Olympics. She has participated in the relay race, taking the silver with her friends on the team. In its crown the individual race, Andrea Henkel had a good chance to take the gold, but very disappointing on the last missed the mark a bit has not held up prize.

Return to the top of

The most impressive athletes in the career of an outstanding season 2006-2007. That was when she won the top award for any biathlete - Big Crystal Globe for the final victory in the World Cup.

Biathlon year she began a series of landslide victory. After the 4th stage is ahead of nearest rival by 76 points. However, Andrea Henkel's health failed again. She became seriously ill and missed a few starts. Return to duty was possible only for the World Cup, where she took a course with two gold medals.

To win back Anna Olofsson and Kati Wilhelm overall had more than 100 points. However, by some miracle, before the last stage, Henkel was able to shorten the gap from the rivals. A successful results in the individual race and in the pursuit of any athlete brought in the first place. Everything is decided by the last race.

However, the weather conditions in Khanty-Mansiysk can mix card to any athlete. Already in the first shooting, Andrea Henkel managed to miss five times, and seemed to have lost all chances of Crystal Globe. However, once again the famous German perseverance played a role, and Andrea was able to eliminate the backlog hopeless. In addition to the main prize she received and Small Globe for best results in individual disciplines.

The veteran team of Germany

Andrea Henkel does not slow down the pace and remained in the top of the best biathletes many more seasons. After the departure of Wilhelm at the end of the Olympic Games in Vancouver, it was the most experienced member of the German team. To the most recent years, she got into the top ten at the end of the World Cup season. For example, in the 2012-2013 season, she was able to become the third. The last full season 2013-2014 Andrea Henkel completed on the 10th place. In addition, she has gained a whole placer gold medals at the world championships, becoming at the end of a career 8 times world champion. Even on the German team failed to Sochi Olympics, she was the best among their dignity and fought to the last.

Andrea Henkel. Personal life

A few years known sportswoman met biathlete Tim Burke. To be closer to your loved one, it is even recent years, trained with the US team, which he represented.

All of this culminated in marriage in 2014.

Many biathlon fans have always wondered what is now engaged Andrea Henkel. Upon completion of active career, she enrolled to study to become a personal fitness trainer. Coaching today is the main goal of the athlete.