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Philipp Horn claims first biathlon podium after years of setbacks

A decade of near-misses and heartbreak culminated in triumph. Now, with the **Olympics** looming, can Horn turn this into a defining career moment?

, and ASMedia

2025 December 12 . 3:19 PM

1 min read

In this image we can see this person wearing spectacles, blazer and tie is standing near the... — In this image we can see this person wearing spectacles, blazer and tie is standing near the podium. Here we can see mic and mouse kept on the podium. In the background, we can see the wall and banner.

Horn fulfills big dream: Third place 'simply brilliant' - Philipp Horn claims first biathlon podium after years of setbacks

Philipp Horn has secured his first-ever biathlon podium with a third-place finish in the Hochfilzen sprint. The 31-year-old German hit all ten targets, a rare feat in his career, after years of struggling with shooting consistency. His breakthrough comes just days before the Olympic winter season kicks off with the pursuit race on Saturday.

Horn’s journey to the podium has been long and difficult. He missed the 2022 Beijing Winter Games due to illness, which prevented him from earning a spot on Germany’s Olympic team. Before that, he had repeatedly failed to qualify for major championships, despite his reputation as a fast skier.

The result could give Horn a much-needed confidence boost ahead of the Olympic winter season. His next test comes in the pursuit race this Saturday. For now, his first podium stands as a turning point in a career marked by perseverance.