Olympics-Biathlon-German Klopp brings soccer sparkle to Olympic biathlon venue

By Philip O’Connor

ANTERSELVA, ITALY, Feb 18 (Reuters) – When Eric Perrot of France heard the bell for the last lap of the men’s Olympic biathlon relay on Tuesday, it was the signal for one last victorious surge – little did he know it was being rung by Premier League-winning soccer manager Juergen Klopp. 

With almost every race at Milano Cortina decided on the last visit to the shooting range, Klopp’s participation came at a pivotal moment and the foormer Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund manager relished the chance to be part of the Games experience. 

“It’s, for me, the best combination of all the physical aspects of sports and all the mental aspects of sports,” he told Reuters and Norwegian broadcaster NRK ahead of Wednesday’s women’s relay, where he was in attendance again. 

“(If you took them) and put it in one sport, if you would have asked me that, let somebody run until he dies, pretty much, and then give him a rifle? Not sure who had that idea! But no, really, for ages, I have loved it.” 

The biathlon competitions at the Milano Cortina Games have had their fair share of drama, but Klopp’s Germany have only captured one medal so far, a bronze in the mixed relay event. 

However, the German coach said that no matter the result, biathletes are worthy of respect. 

“It’s an example for constantly restarting, constantly refocusing, and I have to say, there’s so many aspects.

“A real challenge for me would be to do the last shooting and miss, and then still to finish the race with all you have. That’s a massive thing to do,” he said.

KLOPP ENJOYS OLYMPIC EXPERIENCE

After winning the 2019 Champions League and Premier League a year later with Liverpool, the 58-year-old has not worked at a club since stepping down as boss of the Merseyside team in 2024, joining Red Bull as global head of soccer in January 2025. 

He is using his spare time to enjoy the Olympic experience.

“I’m a big fan of the sports people, big fan of the attitude, a big fan of all the things sport can teach us in life,” he said. 

“And so when you see it here, the Olympic Games, in a super difficult time in the world, they still have their spot and their place, and it’s still the same atmosphere and the same mood they create. 

“Everyone, we are all friends – fight against each other (in the events), but we are friends, and that’s the most important message you can get.”

Norway’s Ole Einar Bjoerndalen, who won eight gold medals and 20 world championship races in a glittering biathlon career, was responsible for inviting Klopp to the Games.

The German said he would need his help to hit a target 50 metres away with a rifle.

“Yesterday I shot; there was three (hits) but next to me was a six-year-old-girl – that was okay but she hit five,” Klopp said with a grin. “So tomorrow he (Bjoerndalen) will try to teach me.

“The less good you are, the bigger the respect is when somebody is really good at it, and I think we all know how it feels when you’re really exhausted, but none of us is able to hit that (target), then they (biathletes) all are.”

Klopp got to see France win both relays and found himself in awe of the prowess of the Olympians on show.

“There’s dealing with pressure, there’s dealing with setbacks, dealing with failure, stay on track; literally, keep going, all these kinds of things,” he said.

“These people are role models in a way they deal with the things we face every day, just in a different code.”

(Reporting by Philip O’Connor; Editing by Christian Radnedge and Ken Ferris)