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Martin Fleig is hoping to defend his two world titles in the men’s biathlon middle and long distance sitting at Prince George 2019.
The German showed good signs at the beginning of the 2018/19 season, taking one silver and two bronze in biathlon, and one bronze in cross-country skiing across two World Cups.
The 2017-18 season was no ordinary milestone in his career. Fleig claimed his first Winter Paralympic medal, gold in the men’s biathlon long distance sitting. It was one of Germany’s seven titles at PyeongChang 2018.
Two years ago, he got the chance to compete at his home World Championships in Finsterau, Germany, with the crowd carrying him to his first world titles - two biathlon golds and one bronze as well as bronze in cross-country long distance.
He not only claimed his first world titles, but also finished top of the biathlon World Cup overall rankings, helped by two victories at the PyeongChang 2018 Test Event.
It will not be easy for Fleig to repeat such performances in Prince George, Canada, as the field gets more competitive.
Fleig began skiing at the age of nine and started competing just two years later at the tender age of 11. His senior international debut for Germany came in 2006.
Biography
Impairment information
Origin of Impairment
Congenital
Classification
LW11.5
Further personal information
Family
Wife Stefanie Fleig
Residence
Gundelfingen, GER
Occupation
Office Worker, Public Servant
Languages
English, German
Sport specific information
When and where did you begin this sport?
He took up the sport at about age eight in Fischbachau, Germany, and began competing at age 11.
Why this sport?
He was spotted by a talent scout while he was attending swimming classes. He was initially disheartened by the sport, but his mother encouraged him to keep practising and at age 11 he started to take it more seriously. "I like taking on challenges and staying fit."
Club / Team
Ring der Korperbehinderten Freiburg: Germany
Name of coach
Ralf Rombach [national], GER; Ulrich Zipfel [national], GER
International debut
Year
2006
Competing for
Germany
Tournament
World Cup
General interest
Nicknames
Marty (Instagram profile, 20 Dec 2018)
Hobbies
Photography. (Athlete, 02 Mar 2022)
Memorable sporting achievement
Winning four medals [two gold, two bronze] at the 2017 World Championships in Finsterau, Germany. (Athlete, 02 Mar 2022)
Most influential person in career
His wife, his parents, and coaches Manfred Rauscher, Melanie Kirchner, Michael Huhn, and Ralf Rombach. (Athlete, 02 Mar 2022)
Hero / Idol
French biathlete Martin Fourcade, German biathletes Laura Dahlmeier and Magdalena Neuner. (Athlete, 02 Mar 2022)
Sporting philosophy / motto
"Be better than yesterday." (Athlete, 02 Mar 2022)
Awards and honours
He and alpine skier Anna-Lena Forster were flag bearers for Germany at the opening ceremony of the 2022 Paralympic Winter Games in Beijing. (IPC Entries, 04 Mar 2022)
He was named the 2019 Sportsman of the Year in Freiburg, Germany. He also won the award in 2012. (osp-freiburg.de, 18 Mar 2021; regiotrends.de, 03 Mar 2013)
In 2018 he was named Male Para Athlete of the Year by the German Paralympic Committee [DBS]. (paralympic.org, 26 Nov 2018)
He was named the 2019 Sportsman of the Year in Freiburg, Germany. He also won the award in 2012. (osp-freiburg.de, 18 Mar 2021; regiotrends.de, 03 Mar 2013)
In 2018 he was named Male Para Athlete of the Year by the German Paralympic Committee [DBS]. (paralympic.org, 26 Nov 2018)
Other sports
He competed in cross-country skiing and biathlon at the Paralympic Winter Games in 2014 and 2018. (SportsDeskOnline, 02 Jan 2019)
Impairment
He was born with spina bifida, and was affected by hydrocephalus [fluid on the brain]. (nordski.net, 2015)
Other information
MOVING OUT
In 2019 he left his parents' home and began living alone for the first time. "I will have my own flat to live in. That could be a very big deal for me I guess, because I will have to manage the daily training, job and household things all by myself. I am really excited to see how that will work." (paralympic.org, 10 Dec 2018)
OCCUPATION
He has worked as a clerk at the Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald district office in Germany. (Athlete, 02 Mar 2022; drs.org, 13 Feb 2019)
In 2019 he left his parents' home and began living alone for the first time. "I will have my own flat to live in. That could be a very big deal for me I guess, because I will have to manage the daily training, job and household things all by myself. I am really excited to see how that will work." (paralympic.org, 10 Dec 2018)
OCCUPATION
He has worked as a clerk at the Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald district office in Germany. (Athlete, 02 Mar 2022; drs.org, 13 Feb 2019)
Results
| Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men's Sprint - Classic Sitting | Final | 2013-02-25 | 7 | |
| Men's Short Distance Sitting | Final | 2013-02-28 | 13 | |
| Men's Middle Distance Sitting | Final | 2013-03-01 | 9 | |
| Men's Long Distance Sitting | Final | 2013-03-03 | 19 | |
| Men's Middle Distance - Classic Sitting | Final | 2013-03-05 | 16 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men's 7.5 km Sitting | Final Round | 2014-03-08 | 9 | |
| Men's 12.5 km Sitting | Final Round | 2014-03-11 | 9 | |
| Men's 1 km Sprint Sitting | Semifinal | 2014-03-12 | 11 | |
| Men's 15 km Sitting | Final Round | 2014-03-14 | 8 | |
| Men's 10 km Sitting | Final Round | 2014-03-16 | 8 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men's Short Distance Sitting | Race 1 | 2015-01-24 | 8 | |
| Men's Middle Distance Sitting | Race 1 | 2015-01-27 | 3 | |
| Men's Sprint - Classic Sitting | Race 1 | 2015-01-28 | 7 | |
| Men's Long Distance Sitting | Race 1 | 2015-01-30 | 13 | |
| Men's Middle Distance - Classic Sitting | Race 1 | 2015-01-31 | 4 | |
| Open Relay | Final | 2015-02-01 | 6 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men's Middle Distance Sitting | Final | 2017-02-11 | 1 | |
| Men's Sprint - Free Style Sitting | Final | 2017-02-12 | 11 | |
| Men's Long Distance Sitting | Final | 2017-02-14 | 1 | |
| Men's Long Distance - Classic Sitting | Final | 2017-02-16 | 3 | |
| Men's Sprint Sitting | Final | 2017-02-18 | 3 | |
| Men's Middle Distance - Free Style Sitting | Final | 2017-02-19 | 5 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men's 7.5km Sitting | Final | 2018-03-10 | 6 | |
| Men's 12.5km Sitting | Final | 2018-03-13 | 4 | |
| Men's 15km Sitting | Final | 2018-03-16 | 1 | |
| Men's 7.5km Sitting | Final | 2018-03-17 | 7 | |
| 4x2.5km Open Relay | Final | 2018-03-18 | 7 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men's Middle Distance Sitting | Final | 2019-02-16 | 4 | |
| Men's Middle Distance - Free Style Sitting | Final | 2019-02-17 | 1 | |
| Men's Sprint Sitting | Final | 2019-02-20 | 2 | |
| Men's Long Distance Sitting | Final | 2019-02-21 | 2 | |
| Open Relay | Final | 2019-02-23 | 4 | |
| Men's Long Distance - Classic Sitting | Final | 2019-02-24 | 1 |
