Linda Tjoerhom, Liv Grete Poiree, Gunn Margit Andreassen and Gro Istad-Kristiansen (R-L) from Norway celebrate their victory in the women's 4x6 kilometres relay race at the Biathlon World Championships in Oberhof, Germany February 12, 2004. Norway won ahead of the Russian team with Olga Pyleva, Svetlana Ishmouratova, Anna Bogali and Albina Akhatova and the German team with Martina Glagow, Katrin Apel, Simone Denkinger and Kati Wilhelm. REUTERS/Christian Charisius CHA/MAD 

Linda Tjoerhom, Gro Istad-Kristiansen, Gunn Margit Andreassen and Liv Grete Poiree (R-L) from Norway celebrate their victory in the women's 4x6 kilometres relay race at the Biathlon World Championships in Oberhof, Germany February 12, 2004. Norway won ahead of the Russian team with Olga Pyleva, Svetlana Ishmouratova, Anna Bogali and Albina Akhatova and the German team with Martina Glagow, Katrin Apel, Simone Denkinger and Kati Wilhelm. REUTERS/Christian Charisius CHA/MAD 

TEAM GERMANY CELEBRATES THIRD PLACE AT WOMEN'S 4X6 KM RELAY RACE DURING BIATHLON WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS IN OBERHOF. Martina Glagow, Simone Denkinger, Kati Wilhelm and Katrin Apel (L-R) from Germany celebrate their third place after the women's 4x6 kilometres relay race at the Biathlon World Championships in Oberhof, Germany February 12, 2004. Team Norway won the race ahead of Russia and Germany. REUTERS/Tobias Schwarz 

Germany's Uschi Disl shoots during the women's 4x6 kilometers relay competition at the Biathlon World Cup in the southern Bavarian skiing resort of Ruhpolding January 14, 2004. The German team Simone Denkinger from Gosheim, Uschi Disl from Moosham, Katrin Apel from Frankenhain and Kati Wilhelm from Zella-Mehlis won with the time of 1:18:37, ahead of Russia and Norway. REUTERS/Alexandra Winkler REUTERS AX/JOH 

GERMANY'S WILHELM CELEBRATES HER TEAM'S VICTORY OF 4X6 KILOMETERS RELAY COMPETITION AT BIATHLON WORLD CUP IN RUHPOLDING. Germany's Kati Wilhelm celebrates her team's victory of the women's 4x6 kilometers relay competition at the Biathlon World Cup in the southern Bavarian skiing resort of Ruhpolding, January 14, 2004. The German team Simone Denkinger from Gosheim, Uschi Disl from Moosham, Katrin Apel from Frankenhain and Kati Wilhelm from Zella-Mehlis won with the time of 1:18:37, ahead of Russia and Norway. REUTERS/Alexandra Winkler 

German team mates Uschi Disl (L) and Katrin Apel (R) chat after 12,5km mass start of the biathlon World Cup race in Pokljuka, Slovenia on January 11, 2004. Anna Bogaliof Russia won ahead of Liv Grete Poiree of Norway, as Uschi Disl placed third and Katrin Apel placed fourth. REUTERS/Srdjan Zivulovic SZ/WS 

Sandrine Bailly (C) of France, Olga Pyleva (L) of Russia and Katrin Apel (R) of Germany stand on a podium after finishing a 10 km World Cup Biathlon pursuit in Osrblie, December 21, 2003. Bailly won ahead of Pyleva and Apel. REUTERS/Peter Andrews PA 

Olga Pyleva (R) of Russia races behind Andrea Henkel of Germany (R) in a 10 km World Cup Biathlon pursuit in Osrblie, December 21, 2003. Pyleva finished second after Sandrine Bailly of France and Katrin Apel of Germany as Henkel come sixth. REUTERS/Peter Andrews PA/JDP 

Katrin Apel of Germany races in the 10 km World Cup Biathlon pursuit in Osrblie, December 21, 2003. Apel finished third after Sandrine Bailly of France and Olga Pyleva of Russia. REUTERS/Peter Andrews PA 

Sandrine Bailly of France races in a 10 km World Cup Biathlon pursuit in Osrblie, December 21, 2003. Bailly won the race ahead of Olga Pyleva of Russia and Katrin Apel of Germany. REUTERS/Peter Andrews PA/THI 

German team members Katja Beer, Katrin Apel, Kati Wilhelm and Martina Glagow (L to R) stand on the podium after the Biathlon world cup 4x6 km relay race in Hochfilzen December 12, 2003. Germany placed second in a time of one hour 17 minutes 30.0 seconds. REUTERS/Heinz-Peter Bader HPB/AA 

Katrin Apel of Germany gets ready for shooting during the Biathlon world cup 4x6 km relay race in Hochfilzen December 12, 2003. Germany placed second in a time of one hour 17 minutes 30.1 seconds. REUTERS/Heinz-Peter Bader HPB/AA 

Germany's Kati Wilhelm (L-R), Andrea Henkel, Uschi Disl and Katrin Apel
pose for photographers after winning the Biathlon World cup 4x6 km
women's relay competition in Oberhof, January 10, 2003. Team Germany
won the race in a total time of one hour 17 minutes and 22.9 seconds
ahead of Russia and France. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch

FAB 

Andrea Henkel (L-R), winner of the gold medal in biathlon 4X7,5
kilometer team relay and the gold medal in 15 kilometer biathlon; Kati
Wilhelm, winner of the gold medal in 7,5 kilometer sprint biathlon, the
gold medal in 4X7,5 kilometer biathlon team relay and the silver medal
in 10 kilometer biathlon and Katrin Apelwith her gold medal in 4X7,5
biathlon team relay display their medals they won during the Salt Lake
2002 Winter Olympic Games during a welcoming celebration in Oberhof
February 26, 2002. Several thousand people greeted German athletes
living in the German federal state of Thueringen as they returned home
from Salt Lake City. REUTERS/Ralph Orlowski

ROR 

German gold medal biathletes Kati Wilhem (top R), Andrea Henkel (bottom
R), Uschi Disl (bottom L) and Katrin Apel celebrate during medal
ceremonies for the women's 4x7.5km relat at the Salt Lake 2002 Winter
Olympic Games, February 18, 2002. The ceremony was held at the Salt
Lake Olympic medals plaza. REUTERS/Jim Bourg

KM/HB 

German gold medal biathletes Kati Wilhem (L), Andrea Henkel (R), Uschi
Disl (2R) and Katrin Apel celebrate during medal ceremonies for the
women's 4x7.5km relay at the Salt Lake 2002 Winter Olympic Games
February 18, 2002. The ceremony was held at the Salt Lake Olympic
medals plaza. REUTERS/Jim Bourg

KM/HB 

German biathletes (L to R) Kati Wilhem, Andrea Henkel, Uschi Disl and
Katrin Apel celebrate their gold in the women's 4x7.5 km biathlon relay
at Soldier Hollow during the Salt Lake 2002 Olympic Winter Games,
February 18, 2002. The German team took the gold in one hour, 27
minutes 55.0, seconds, ahead of Norway in silver and Russia in bronze.
REUTERS/Andrew Winning

DL/HB 

German biathletes (L to R) Uschi Disl, Kati Wilhem, Andrea Henkel, and
Katrin Apel celebrate after taking the gold in the women's 4x7.5 km
biathlon relay at Soldier Hollow during the Salt Lake 2002 Olympic
Winter Games, February 18, 2002. The German team took the gold in one
hour 27 minutes 55.0 seconds ahead of Norway in silver and Russia in
bronze. REUTERS/Andrew Winning

DL/CRB 

German biathlete Katrin Apel skis during the women's 4x7.5 km biathlon
relay at Soldier Hollow during the Salt Lake 2002 Olympic Winter Games,
February 18, 2002. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

DL/CRB 

Katrin Apel of Germany removes her gloves before shooting during the
Olympic women's 15 km individual biathlon at Soldier Hollow, during the
Salt Lake 2002 Olympic Winter Games February 11, 2002. REUTERS/Kevin
Lamarque

AW/DL/HB 

Katrin Apel of Germany takes aim in the shooting segment of the women's
15k individual biathlon, in Soldier Hollow during the Salt Lake 2002
Olympic Winter Games, February 11, 2002. The Games run through February
24. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

RR/HB 

Uschi Disl, Katrin Apel, Kati Wilhelm and Martina Zellner (L-R) of
Germany celebrate in the finish area after the 4 x 7.5 km women relay
competition at the Biathlon World Cup in Ruhpolding January 17, 2002.
Team Germany won the competition ahead of team Russia in second and
Norway in third place. REUTERS/Michael Dalder

MAD/CRB 

Leading lady of the biathlon World Cup, Magdalena Forsberg of Sweden
surprised all when she finished second last after accidentally firing a
series of shots at the wrong target bay during women's 7.5 kilometers
sprint at World cup biathlon in Osrblie on Friday December 21, 2001.
The race won Katja Holanti of Finland when she clocked the fastest time
of 20 minutes and 6.7 of a second, second was Kati Whilhelm and third
Katrin Apel, both of Germany.

REUTERS/Joe Klamar 

WINNER KATJA HOLANTI OF FINLAND CELEBRATES AT THE PODIUM OF WOMENS
SPRINT IN BIATHLON WORLD CUP AT OSRBLIE SLOVAKIA.


Katja Holanti of Finland (C) celebrates her victory as she poses at the
podium after winning at women's 7.5 kilometers sprint at World cup
biathlon in Osrblie on Friday December 21,2001.The race won Katja
Holanti of Finland when she clocked the fastest time of 20 minutes and
6.7 of a second, second was Kati Whilhelm and third Katrin Apel both of
Germany. 

Kati Whilhelm (L), Katrin Apel (R), both of Germany, and winner Katja
Holanti of Finland (C) pose on the the podium of the women's 7.5 kms
sprint at the World cup biathlon in Osrblie December 21, 2001. The race
was won by Holanti of Finland ahead of Whilhelm and third placed Apel.

REUTERS/Joe Klamar 

Second fastest German woman Martina Glagow, who finished sixth,
competes in the women's individual 15 kilometre World cup biathlon in
Osrblie December 20, 2001. The race was won by Magdalena Forsberg.

REUTERS/Joe Klamar 

German Andrea Henkel (R) speaks with teammate Katrin Apel after the 10
km pursuit World Cup biathlon race in Pokljuka December 16, 2001.
Magdalena Forsberg of Sweden won the event with a total time of 32
minutes 23 seconds. Olga Pyleva of Russia placed second, while Henkel
and Apel were third and fourth respectively. REUTERS/Srdjan Zivulovic

SZ/GB 

German team Janet Klein, Andrean Henkel, Katrin Apel and Kati Wilhelm
(L to R) celebrate their win after the women's 4x 7,5 km relay World
Cup biathlon race in Pokljuka, December 14, 2001. Germany won in a
total time of one hour forty minutes and 54 seconds. Norway was second
and Ukraine place third. REUTERS/Srdjan Zivulovic

SZ/WS 

Winners (L-R) Andrea Henkel, Katrin Apel, Janet Klein and Kati Wilhelm
from Germany celebrate after the Womens' 4x 7.5km relay World Cup
biathlon race in Pokljuka, December 14, 2001. Germany won in a total
time of one hour 40 minutes and 54 seconds with Norway in second and
Ukraine third. REUTERS/Srdjan Zivulovic

SZ 

Katrin Apel of Germany skis during the second leg of the women's 4 x 7.5 km relay race at the World Biathlon Championships in Pokljuka February 10, 2001. Russia placed first in a total time of one hour, 29 minutes and 2.8 seconds, second was Germany and third Ukraine.

LJ/AA 

Katrin Apel from Germany skates during the 7,5 km sprint race at the Biathlon World Cup in Ruhpolding, January 13, 2001. Sweden's Magdalena Forsberg won the competition in front of Skjelbreid-Poiree from Norway and Apel from Germany on thrid place.

MAD/CLH/ 

GERMANYS KATRIN APEL CELEBRATES THIRD PLACE AFTER THE 7,5 KM SPRINT RACE AT THE BIATHLON WORLD CUP IN RUHPOLDING.


Katrin Apel from Germany celebrates the third place after the 7,5 km sprint race at the Biathlon World Cup in Ruhpolding, January 13, 2001. Swedens Magdalena Forsberg won the competition in front of Skjelbreid-Poiree from Norway and Apel from Germany on thrid place. 

FORSBERG, SKJELBREID-POIREE AND APEL ON THE WINNERS PODIUM AFTER THE 7,5 KM SPRINT RACE AT THE BIATHLON WORLD CUP IN RUHPOLDING.


Sweden's Magdalena Forsberg (C), Liv Grete Skjelbreid-Poiree from Norway (L) and Katrin Apel from Germany pose on the podium after the 7.5 km sprint race at the Biathlon World Cup in Ruhpolding, January 13, 2001. Forsberg won the competition in front of Skjelbreid-Poiree from Norway and Apel from Germany. 

Martina Glagow, Andrea Henkel, Katrin Apel and Uschi Disl (L-R) from Germany pose after the 4x7.5 km women's relay competition at the Biathlon World Cup in Ruhpolding, January 11, 2001. Germany finished the competition in one hour 32 minutes 42.5 seconds in second place in front of Russia and just behind Norway.

MAD 

Nathalie Santer from Italy (C), Katrin Apel from Germany (L) and Olga Pyleva from Russia (R) pose on the podium after the 7.5 km sprint race at the Biathlon Worldcup in Ruhpolding, January 15. Santer finished the race in 23:46.4 minutes ahead of Katrin Apel from Germany and Olga Pyleva from Russia.

MAD 

Nathalie Santer from Italy waves from the podium after winning the 7.5 km sprint race at the Biathlon Worldcup in Ruhpolding, January 15. Santer finished the race in 23:46.4 minutes ahead of Katrin Apel from Germany and Olga Pyleva from Russia.

MAD 

Katrin Apel from Germany skates during the 7.5 km sprint race at the Biathlon Worldcup in Ruhpolding, January 15. Apel finished the race in 23:48.2 minutes on second place behind the winner Italy's Nathalie Santer.

MAD 

Nathalie Santer from Italy skis during the 7.5 km sprint race at the Biathlon Worldcup in Ruhpolding, January 15. Santer won the race in 23:46.4 minutes ahead of Katrin Apel from Germany and Olga Pyleva from Russia.

MAD 

Martina Zellner, Uschi Disl, Andrea Henkel and Katrin Apel from Germany (L-R) pose on the Podium after the 4 x 7.5 km Relay women competition at the Biathlon Worldcup in Ruhpolding, January 14. The German team won the race ahead of Russia on second place and Ukraine on third.

MAD 

Germany's first placed (L-R) Andrea Henkel, Katja Beer, Katrin Apel and Uschi Disl smile after they won the women 4X7.5 km relay competition during the awarding ceremony at the Biathlon World Cup in Oberhof January 8. [Russia placed first in a time of 1:36:33.4, Germany placed second and France third in this competition.] 

Germany's second placed (L-R) Andrea Henkel, Katja Beer, Katrin Apel and Uschi Disl smile after they won the women's 4x7.5 km relay competition during the awards ceremony at the Biathlon World Cup event in Oberhof January 8. Russia placed first in a time of 1 hour 36:33.4, Germany placed second and France placed third.

FAB 

Germany's first placed (L-R) Andrea Henkel, Katja Beer, Katrin Apel and Uschi Disl smile after they won the women 4X7.5 km relay competition during the awarding ceremony at the Biathlon World Cup in Oberhof January 8. Russia placed first in a time of 1:36:33.4, Germany placed second and France third in this competition.

FAB/CLH/ 

Ukrainian Olena Petrova (L-R) takes over from her team mate Olena Zubrilova as Uschi Disl hands over to Katrin Apel of Germany during the biathlon women's Relay World Cup in Ruhpolding January 15. The Ukrainian team won the competition, Germany ranked second and the Russian team took the third place.

MIK/WS 

German biathletes Uschi Disl (C) who placed first, Simone Greiner-Petter-Memm (L) who placed second and Katrin Apel (R) wave on the podium of the women's 10km pursuit at the biathlon World cup in Osrblie, Slovakia December 20. Disl's fastest time of the 31:26.5 guaranteed her first place, ahead of the second Greiner-Petter-Memm, despite her three missed targets.

JAK/JDP 

Katrin Apel (L) of Germany is chased by Magdalena Forsberg from Sweeden (R) during the women's 10 km pursuit at the biathlon World cup in Osrblie, Slovakia December 20. Apel missed three targets and finished third ahead of the fourth placed Forsberg.

JAK/JDP 

Germany's Katrin Apel (L) takes over from her team mate Simone Greiner-Petter-Memm during the 4x7.5 km women's relay in the Biathlon World cup in Osrblie December 17. The German team won the event in a time of 1:26:50.8.

JAK/SB 

(L-R) Simone Greiner-Petter-Memm, Katrin Apel, Martina Zellner and Uschi Disl of Germany celebrate their win in the women's 4 by 7.5 kilometre relay competition in the World Cup biathlon in Osrblie, Slovakia December 17. Sharp shooting combined with the fastest time of 1 hour 26 minutes and 50.8 seconds contributed to the victory of the German team.

JAK/WS 

(LtoR) Germany's Ursula Disl, Petra Behle, Katrin Apel and Martina Zellner pose for a picture with their Olympic medals during the award ceremony February 19. The German team won gold in Olympic biathlon women's 4x7,5 km relay, [while Russia took silver and Norway took bronze]. 

(LtoR) Germans Ursula Disl, Petra Behle, Katrin Apel and Martina Zellner pose for a picture with their Olympic medals during the award ceremony February 19. The German team won gold in Olympic biathlon women's 4x7,5 km relay, while Russia took silver and Norway took bronze.

OLYMPICS BIATHLON 

Germany's women's 4 X 17.5 Olympic biathlon gold medal relay team of (L-R) Ursula Disl, Petra Behle, Katrin Apel, and Martina Zellner wave from the victory podium at the flower ceremony in Nozawa Onsen February 19.

OLYMPICS WOMEN'S BIATHLON RELAY 

A biathlon ski fan wears flags stuck to her face as she watches the start of the women's 4x7.5 km Olympic biathlon women's relay February 19. The German team of Ursula Disl, Martina Zellner, Katrin Apel and Petra Behle won gold, the Russian team took silver and Norway the bronze.

OLYMPICS BIATHLON 

Germany's Olympic biathlon medallists Ursula Disl (L) and compatriot Katrin Apel show off their medals following the ceremony in Nagano February 15. Disl won the silver medal with Apel taking the bronze in the 7.5km biathlon spirnt race. [The gold was won by Galina Koukleva of Russia.] 

Galina Koukleva of Russia shows her Olympics gold medal during the biathlon awarding ceremony in Nagano February 15. [Germany's Ursula Disl won the silver and her compatriot Katrin Apel took the bronze.] 

Galina Koukleva of Russia shows her gold medal during the awarding ceremony in Nagano February 15. Germany's Ursula Disl won the silver and her compatriot Katrin Apel took the bronze.

OLYMPICS BIAT 

German Olympic biathlon medallists Ursula Disl (L) and compatriot Katrin Apel show off their medals following the ceremony in Nagano February 15. Disl won the silver medal with Apel taking the bronze in the 7.5km biathlon spirnt race. The gold was won by Galina Koukleva of Russia.

OLYMPICS SKI JUMPING 

Katrin Apel of Germany aims at the shooting range during the Olympic woman`s 7.5km biathlon sprint competition February 15. Apel finished third and took the bronze medal.

OLYMPICS BIATHLON 

Kathi Schwaab (L), Petra Behle (2ndL), Uschi Disl (2ndR) and Katrin Apel pose for photographers after they placed second at the women's Biathlon team World Cup over 7.5 km in Ruhpolding January 12. Russia won the race ahead of Germany and third place Ukraine.

GERMANY BIATHLON 

The German women's Biathlon team (From l to r) Katrin Apel, Simone Petter-Greiner-Memm, Petra Behle and Uschi Disl show their gold medals to photographers during the podium ceremony of the 4 x 7.5 kilometres women's relay at the Biathlon World Championships in Ruhpolding February 11 

Germany's womens biathlon team Uschi Disl (l), Katrin Apel (2nd from l), Simone Petter-Greiner-Memm (3rd from l) and Petra Behle celebrate their victory after winning the 4 x 7.5 km relay at the world biathlon championships in Ruhpolding February 10. Germany won the race ahead of team France and the Ukraine