- Is a former German biathlete whose exploits made him one of the most successful biathletes of all time at the Winter Olympics and the World Championships.
- His club is SC Ruhpolding.
- Has three son with his wife: Marco (born 1995), Simon (b. 1998), and Gabriel (b. 2004).
- Is a Hauptfeldwebel (Sergeant First Class) in the German Bundeswehr.
- From 2015 became the national head coach of the Russian biathlon team.
- Started out as a cross-country skier but switched to biathlon at the age of 13.
- Made his World Cup debut at the age of 20.
- His first club was the SG Dynamo Klingenthal until 1991.
- In the Biathlon World Cup of 1997-1998, came 2nd in the overall competition.
- Has 9 individual victories.
- Has 52 individual podiums.
- Won the small crystal globe for the individual discipline in the 1996-1997 season.
- Has 20 medals. 9 of which are gold.
- Won 8 Olympics medals: 4 gold in the relay, 3 silver in sprints and in a relay, one bronze in the pursuit.
- Was a member of the German national team for the Olympic Games in 1992 in Albertville, France, in 1994 in Lillehammer, Norway, in 1998 in Nagano, Japan, in 2002 in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA and in 2006 in Turin, Italy.
- Retired from biathlon on 18 March 2007.
- Worked as a commentator on biathlon for the German television.
- Was appointed as coach of the German women's biathlon team in 2010.
- Was subsequently announced as senior trainer for the German IBU Cup team in April 2014.
- Coaches were Frank Ullrich and Fritz Fischer.
- Lives in Ruhpolding, Germany.
- Is known for his shooting abilities. Statistics show his shooting from the prone position was in the 90% and from the standing position was in the 88%.
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