IBU Athlete of the Week Lena Haecki-Gross earned this honor with a sterling weekend in Hochfilzen, starting with a near-miss (.3 second) fourth place in the sprint, followed by a career-best second place in the pursuit. That personal best was a long time coming, just over a week short of four years after third place in the 2019 Annecy Le Grand Bornand pursuit. Always strong on the tracks, a clean last standing stage in the Hochfilzen pursuit pitted Haecki-Gross against Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold. In the last 100 meters, the 28-year-old Swiss biathlete sprinted past the equally speedy Norwegian claiming her best result ever.

After her big weekend in Hochfilzen, Haecki-Gross sat down to answer five burning questions and a bonus about some special things in her life.

Biathlonworld: It has been almost four years since your previous best third place in Le Grand Bornand, were you always confident that the day would come?

Lena Haecki-Gross: I was definitely hoping for an improvement, but I wouldn't say I was always confident. Let's say I'm not too surprised that it happened now, because this year's summer training went really well and I knew I had improved a lot.

BW: Were you surprised or just amused that was you and Ingrid battling for second and third once again?

LH-G: I didn't think about the previous battle with Ingrid during the race. I was just concentrating on the fact that Ingrid is a very strong skier and how I could manage the last lap against her. I'm happy that my strategy of staying in her slipstream on the downhills worked well in the end.

BW: You’ve had a fast start to the season, what is the difference this year…better training, health, maturity, focus…or?

LH-G: While all of these factors certainly play a role, I think the biggest part is my improved mental health. I'm confident in myself and how I'm dealing with my eating disorder, so that it's not affecting me and my preparation for the season.

BW: After your near-miss sprint, did you wake up Saturday morning confident this would be YOUR DAY?

LH-G: I was very happy with my result in the sprint race already, even though it was such a near miss to the podium. My focus for the pursuit wasn't necessarily on the podium so much as it was on enjoying the race and retrieving my current form on the skis and in the shooting range. Anything else is a welcome bonus in my view!

BW: How excited are you and the whole team to be competing in the first-ever World Cup in Switzerland this week?

LH-G: I think I can speak for the whole team when I say that we are all really looking forward to the home races. Unfortunately, we have already had a few absences due to illness and I wish the whole team a good recovery and good health so that we can all give our best in Lenzerheide.

Biathlonworld Bonus: What are three things that you cannot live without?

LH-G: Family & friends…a good book to air my head between races…snacks!

With her momentum coming out of Hochfilzen, a positive outlook, plus family and friends on hand this week in Lenzerheide, no one will be surprised to see Lena battling for the podium in her home stadium!

Photos: IBU: Per Danielsson, Jasmin Walter, Nordic Focus