Katrin Apel

Katrin Apel was born on 4 May 1973 in Erfurt, Germany. She is a retired biathlete. Apel began her career as a cross-country skier. Between 1990 and 1994, her best results were 3rd place in the 5 km classic at the 1993 Junior World Championships and coming 2nd in the relay also in the Junior World Championships, in 1990. When she couldn't qualify for the 1994 Winter Olympic Games in Lillehammer, Apel decided to try biathlon. Apel's first races were in the European Cup, the second division to the World Cup. At her first World Championships in Ruhpolding in 1996, Apel won a gold medal with the relay team. She took part only in one other individual event - the sprint where was 31st. The next year in Brezno-Osrblie' World Championships in 1997, Apel won her second gold medal once again with the relay. She finished 42nd in the sprint and 25th in the pursuit. At the 1998 Olympics in Nagano, this time Apel was part of the German team, she won her very first Olympic medal - a gold in the relay. In the other disciplines, she appeared only in the sprint and success, Apel won the bronze. The first World Cup podium Apel achieved was during the 1999-2000 season. She came 2nd in the sprint in Holmenkollen. At the 1999 World Championships in Kontiolahti, Apel won another gold in the relay. She placed 19th in the sprint and 22nd in the pursuit. From the 2000 World Championships in Holmenkollen, she won two silver medals in the sprint and the relay. In the other events, Apel was 6th in the Individual, 4th in the pursuit and 5th in the mass start. These were and will remain her most successful World Championships. Apel couldn't repeat such great positioning at the World Championships in Pokljuka in 2001. However she did win a silver medal with the efforts of the relay team. But in the other disciplines finished 31st in the Individual, 4th in the sprint, 8th in pursuit and 15th in the mass start. During 2001-2002 season, Apel achieved three World Cup victories, in the sprint in Holmenkollen, the sprint and pursuit in Lahti. And one second place in the pursuit in Holmenkollen. At the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City, Apel won the gold medal in the relay. Her performance in the other events was as it follows: 18th in the Individual, 12th in the sprint and 7th in the pursuit. The season concluded for her at the prestigious number 5 in the overall. In 2003-2004 Katrin Apel made a wonderful 2nd place in the mass start in Oberhof. At the World Championships in Khanty-Mansiysk that season didn't manage to win any medal. Her performance was 36th in the Individual, 18th in the sprint and 28th in the pursuit. In spite of such results, Apel finished 7th in the overall. The 2004-2005 season marks her victory in the sprint in Khanty-Mansiysk. Also the good World Championships in Oberhof in 2004, from which Apel won two medals - a silver in the mass start and a bronze in the relay. Something of the same kind happened during her last World Championships in 2005 in Hochfilzen. Apel won a silver medal with the relay. Placed 33rd in the Individual, 31st in the sprint, 7th in the pursuit and 16th in the mass start. She concluded the season once more in the Top 10, at 8th position in the overall. In 2005-2006 all the attention and preparation was for the Olympics in February in Turin. But that didn't prevent, the fantastic Katrin Apel to make three podiums in the World Cup tour. The first one was when she came 3rd in the sprint in Östersund, then another 3rd place in the pursuit in Pokljuka and again 3rd in the mass start in Oberhof. At the 2006 Olympics in Turin, Apel won a bronze medal in the relay alongside Martina Beck, Andrea Henkel and Kati Wilhelm. Apel participated in the sprint where finished 22nd and in the pursuit - 11th place. Katrin Apel's fabulous and so successful career ended in 2006-2007.