Wolfgang Pichler

Wolfgang Pichler (born 23 January 1955 in Ruhpolding) is a German biathlon and cross-country skiing coach.

Wolfgang Pichler
Wolfgang Pichler in Moscow, Russia in May 2011
Born
Ruhpolding, Bavaria, Germany

(1955-01-23)23 January 1955
NationalityGermany
Occupationbiathlon and cross-country skiing trainer

Wolfgang Pichler formerly trained Magdalena Forsberg, and won with her six World Biathlon Championships and six Biathlon World Cup titles. After her retirement, Pichler coached the Swedish biathlon team, both men and women,[1] guiding the likes of Helena Ekholm, Anna-Carin Olofsson and Björn Ferry to Olympic and World Championship medals.[2]

He coached Sweden at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin successfully. Olofsson won the silver medal in sprint behind Kati Wilhelm. She then won a gold medal in mass start, the first for Sweden since 1960.[3]

Pichler coached the Russian female biathlon team in the season 2011/2012.[4] After acting as a consultant to the Swedish biathlon team in the 2014-15 season, in April 2015 the Swedish Biathlon Federation announced that Pichler had been re-appointed as the team's head coach.[2] During this spell with the team he guided Hanna Öberg and Sebastian Samuelsson to Olympic and World Championship medals.[5] In addition at this time he coached British biathlete Amanda Lightfoot.[6]

Wolfgang's brother, Claus Pichler, is a Social Democratic politician who was elected mayor of the brothers' home town of Ruhpolding. Walter Pichler, a fellow coach and former biathlete who took a bronze medal at the 1984 Winter Olympics, is a cousin of the brothers.[7]

In January 2019, he announced he would resign from the position as Swedish national team coach following the 2018–2019 season.[8]

References
  1. "Wolfgang Pichler vor dem Wechsel nach Russland" (in German). Sport Line. 2011-04-26. Retrieved 2011-04-29.
  2. "Wolfgang Pichler Returns to Sweden as Head Coach". International Biathlon Union. 30 April 2015. Retrieved 2 December 2015.
  3. "Wolfgang Pichler neuer Biathlon-Coach in Russland" (in German). Mainzer Rhein-Zeitung. 2011-04-27.
  4. "German to lead Russian women's biathlon team". Russia Today. 2011-04-28. Retrieved 2011-04-29.
  5. "New Season Begins: A Spin on the Coaching Carousel". International Biathlon Union. 10 May 2019. Retrieved 16 May 2019.
  6. Newman, Vicki (4 October 2016). "South Shields snow queen Amanda prepares for biathlon season". Shields Gazette. Retrieved 17 May 2019.
  7. Becker, Thomas (1 March 2012). "Der Russe und der Ruhpoldinger" [The Russian and the Ruhpoldinger]. Abendzeitung (in German). Retrieved 14 January 2015.
  8. "Wolfgang Pichler" (in Swedish). Sportlbadet. 21 January 2019. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
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