Katrin Apel

Katrin Apel started out as a cross-country skier, but she failed to qualify for the 1994 Winter Olympics. Out of frustration, she turned to biathlon, which turned out to be a great move. In 1996, she won world titles with the German squad in both the 4x7.5 km relay and team events. Over the years, she added two more titles and five more silvers and a bronze, most of them in the relay event.

At three consecutive Olympic Winter Games from 1998-2006 Apel’s successes were again mostly in team events, winning two golds (1998 and 2002) and a silver (2006), all in the relay. Apel was also an excellent individual biathlete, however, winning four World Cup races. In 1998 at Nagano, she added an individual Olympic bronze in the sprint event.

After completing her training as an ergotherapist, Apel worked for six years in school social work at primary schools. Later she was active in a day group, in which she looked after elementary school students from difficult backgrounds.