Magdalena Reuner became the most successful biathlete of all-time during the 2000s and early 2010s — and then quit at the top of her game. In seven Biathlon World Cup seasons, she won three overall titles, seven discipline titles, and 34 individual race victories. She won two gold medals at the Winter Olympics and an incredible 12 World Championship gold medals. She was voted German Sportswoman of the Year three times, in 2007, 2011, and 2012, and became one of the most popular German sportswomen of her generation. Since her retirement in 2012 (at only 25 years old), she has settled down and started a family but has kept close links with the biathlon world, working as an ambassadress for various partners and as the official biathlon expert for ARD. It’s a sign of the affection with which she is regarded that over a decade after retiring as an athlete, she still has 83,000 Instagram followers.

Growing up in the Bavarian village of Wallgau, Neuner took up alpine skiing at a young age but became fascinated by the biathlon at the age of nine after attending a taster session. Aged 16, she announced her intention to become a professional biathlete. Despite her parents not being so keen on the idea, she eventually won them over, and by the time she turned 20, she had won six gold medals from her first three Junior World Championships. By the time she graduated to senior competitions in 2007, she was already established as one of the strongest contenders in the Biathlon World Cup, taking the tournament by storm, being offered lucrative sponsorship deals and winning her first season in 2008.