The 32-year-old bearded man from Upper Valais has decided to retire from elite sport. With a total of six podiums, he has the best record in the history of the World Cup for a Swiss biathlete.
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Benjamin Weger in action a few days ago, during the Beijing Olympics.
Biathlete Benjamin Weger has decided to retire from elite sport at the end of the current winter. The 32-year-old Haut-Valaisan has to date five individual World Cup podiums, another in the mixed relay as well as two sixth places at the 2018 Olympic Games in PyeongChang.
“This decision is the result of a process and I had already taken it at the start of the season. I waited to communicate it, in order to concentrate as best as possible on my sporting performance, ”explained Benjamin Weger.
The biathlete made his World Cup debut in the 2008/09 season. “I’ve been here a very long time already,” added Weger. Despite all the incredibly beautiful moments that sport offers, it is also linked to a lot of renunciations. I’ve noticed that the little excitement and motivation needed to perform big at the highest level has diminished over time. I am now looking forward to starting a new stage in my life.”
With a total of six podiums, he now has the best record in the history of the World Cup for a Swiss biathlete. He reached the top 3 at least once in each of the four individual disciplines (sprint, pursuit, individual and mass start). Including the World Cup and the Olympics, Benjamin Weger has finished in the top 10 50 times.
The Haut-Valaisan will skip the Kontiolahti World Cup races (March 4-6). If all goes according to plan, he will be back at the start in Otepää (Estonia), before bidding farewell to the highest level at the World Cup finals in Oslo.
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Benjamin Weger had what is called “a mouth”.