He was once called the demon trainer and produced world stars such as Magdalena Forsberg, Helena Ekholm, Hanna Öberg and Sebastian Samuelsson.
Wolfgang Pichler embodies Swedish biathlon. He says he is German, but feels Swedish at heart. But in the Olympic Stadium in Antholz he is there in red and green clothing as an advisor to the Bulgarian national team.
The 71-year-old Pichler resigned as captain of the Swedish national team in 2019. In recent seasons he has offered his help to one of the smallest nations in the biathlon world.
But not even Pichler had probably dared to dream that there would be a Bulgarian medal in the first Olympic women’s individual race. Lora Hristova had finished 13th at best in the World Cup. Now she was firing on all cylinders, taking a thundering bronze medal in the distance competition behind French duo Julia Simon and Lou Jeanmonnot.
At the same time, the Swedes had a tough day, with ninth place (Linn Gestblom) being their best result.
“It’s a dream to win a medal with this team,” says Pichler, and there is no doubt that he is touched.
– When you see this small team and the whole situation between all the other big nations that have Vala buses and everything. And then we come…
He shakes his head, seeming to enjoy being in the hot air again.
What is it like for you personally to train an Olympic champion again?
Pichler, who is used to answering quickly, falls silent for two seconds. Then he says:
– I said that I didn’t want to leave here without a medal, but of course I was realistic. That’s big. It’s very big.
What is the key to Bulgarian success?
– My education. It’s very simple! That’s the way it is.
– Hard training, like in Sweden. Maybe we train harder than the Swedes, I don’t know. But we train hard.
The bronze medalist himself paid tribute to Pichler at the press conference after the race.
– I felt trust in him from the beginning, says Lora Hristova.
– He was very inspiring for all of us.
With Wolfgang Pichler When the Swedish national biathlon team celebrated a major breakthrough at the 2018 Olympics, the coach was banned by then squad leader Peter Reinebo because he had bought alcohol for the celebration.
How are you going to celebrate tonight?
“I think I have to buy a lot of bottles of wine,” says Pichler now and grins.
So there are no restrictions in the Bulgarian team?
Here Pichler laughs so loudly that people turn around.
Then he says in his typical mix of German, Swedish and English:
-Ha ha! We are not in Sweden! “Coffee And Cake!” But Reinebo couldn’t stop me either, we also drank the Swedish team with us.
Read more:
Nothing worked for Hanna Öberg: “Feels empty”
Wolfgang Pichler appears here – for Bulgaria: “My life was boring”
