Get to Know The New Coach In The US Team

Armin Auchentaller was born on Nov, 12th in 1971 in South Tyrol, Italy. He lives with his wife and their two daughters only nine kilometers away from the biathlon stadium of Anterselva in Italy.

After being a biathlete himself on the European Cup level, Auchentaller soon started as a coach in a local sports school before being responsible for the state team of South Tyrol. During that time the Italians were already quite successfull when it came to youth and junior competition. "That was mainly because of Armin. Most of the athletes who achieved successes on the junior level were Armin's pupil at the sports school. He did a good job with the young talents there", explains World Cup athlete Markus Windisch.

The big step up came in 2007 when Auchentaller was hired as a coach for the Italian World Cup Team. Within two years he and his colleague Francesco Berlendis improved the performance of the Italian team. Two men among the Top30 biathletes of the world and several podiums proved that Auchentaller knows how to get the best out of his athletes - even when it comes to forming a team not on a sports-basis, but a personal basis. The Italian team long struggled with differences mainly between the German-speaking South Tyrolians and the Italian-speaking athletes of other parts of Italy. Under the guidance of the coaches the athletes found a new spirit within their team, acting and working together as friends with respect for each other's origins.

Given his friendly character and professional experience, the U.S. team is sure: Auchentaller will fit perfectly within the squad.

See also: US Biathlon Team Hires World Class Coach