Nagelsmann wishes German biathletes best of luck at worlds

Germany national football team coach Julian Nagelsmann has wished the German biathletes the best of luck at the world championships starting on Wednesday in Nove Mesto, Czech Republic.

"I wish you maximum success at the world championships in the Czech Republic. My mother watches every biathlon race on TV, so please give your best for her too," Nagelsmann said in a video published by the German skiing federation.

Germany players Joshua Kimmich and Manuel Neuer also sent their best wishes to the biathlon team.

"They really motivated us and we never thought that so many people from football would follow biathlon so closely," biathlete Justus Strelow said.

Strelow, Philipp Nawrath, Franziska Preuß and Vanessa Voigt will bid for the first medal on Wednesday in the mixed relay.

Nagelsmann's affinity with biathlon has been known for a while. In December 2022, the then Bayern Munich coach was in the stands with his partner at the World Cup in Hochfilzen, Austria, and watched the races in private.

After he was discovered, he took a picture with the Germany team in the finish area.

The 2014 World Cup winner Philipp Lahm was also part of the motivational video, saying: "May your shots be accurate, your legs and arms quick and persistent."

The biathlon world championships start on Wednesday and run until February 18.