Michael Greis facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Michael Greis

Greis at the World Championships in Antholz-Anterselva.
Personal information
Nickname(s)	Michi
Born	(1976-08-18) 18 August 1976 (age 48) Füssen, West Germany
Height	1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)
Professional information
Sport	Biathlon
Club	SK Nesselwang
World Cup debut	28 February 2001
Retired	5 December 2012
Olympic Games
Teams	3 (2002, 2006, 2010)
Medals	3 (3 gold)
World Championships
Teams	9 (2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012)
Medals	12 (3 gold)
World Cup
Seasons	13 (2000/01–2012/13)
Individual victories	11
All victories	21
Individual podiums	34
All podiums	64
Overall titles	1 (2006–07)
Discipline titles	4: 3 Individual (2004–05, 2005–06, 2008–09); 1 Sprint (2006–07)
Medal record Men's biathlon Representing  Germany Olympic Games Gold 2006 Turin 20 km individual Gold 2006 Turin 15 km mass start Gold 2006 Turin 4 × 7.5 km relay World Championships Gold 2004 Oberhof 4 × 7.5 km relay Gold 2007 Antholz-Anterselva 15 km mass start Gold 2008 Östersund Mixed relay Silver 2005 Hochfilzen 20 km individual Silver 2007 Antholz-Anterselva 20 km individual Silver 2011 Khanty-Mansiysk Mixed relay Bronze 2005 Khanty-Mansiysk Mixed relay Bronze 2007 Antholz-Anterselva 4 × 7.5 km relay Bronze 2008 Östersund 4 × 7.5 km relay Bronze 2009 Pyeongchang 4 × 7.5 km relay Bronze 2009 Pyeongchang Mixed relay Bronze 2012 Ruhpolding 4 × 7.5 km relay

Michael Greis (born August 18, 1976) is a famous former German biathlete. A biathlete is an athlete who competes in biathlon, a winter sport that combines cross-country skiing and rifle shooting.

Michael Greis's Biathlon Career

Michael Greis started his Olympic journey at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. He finished 15th in the 10 km sprint and 16th in the 12.5 km pursuit biathlon events.

In the 2004-2005 season, Greis won the World Cup in the individual biathlon category. He was also part of the German team that won the 4 × 7.5 km relay at the 2004 Biathlon World Championships. The next year, he earned a silver medal in the 20 km individual event at the 2005 World Championships.

Winning Olympic Gold Medals

At the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy, Michael Greis was a top contender. He won the first Olympic gold medal of the games in the 20 km individual event. He beat the previous Olympic champion, Ole Einar Bjørndalen.

Greis also helped the German team win gold in the 4 × 7.5 km relay race. On February 25, 2006, he won his third gold medal in the men's 15 km mass start event. This made him the first athlete to win three gold medals at the Turin Olympics.

Because of his amazing success, Michael Greis was named German Sportsman of the Year. He shared this honor with fellow biathlete Kati Wilhelm.

Later Career and Retirement

In the 2006-2007 World Cup season, Greis showed his strength by winning the overall title and the sprint competition. The next season, 2007-2008, he often finished on the podium. He achieved three victories, three second places, and three third places. At the World Championships in Östersund that year, he helped his team win a gold and a bronze medal in the relays.

Before the 2008-2009 World Cup season, Greis decided to train on his own. This was due to a disagreement with his coach. Despite this change, he had a strong year, winning two more World Cup races. He also earned a bronze medal in the relay at the 2009 Biathlon World Championships in South Korea.

Michael Greis competed in the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver, Canada. However, these games were not as successful for him. He finished 10th in both the individual and mass start events. The German men's biathlon team did not win any medals at these Olympics, which was unusual.

After the first part of the 2012-2013 World Cup season, Greis announced his retirement on December 5, 2012. He said he no longer had the same motivation to compete. His last race was the 20 km event in Östersund on November 28.

After Competing

After retiring from biathlon, Michael Greis went to college. He studied International Management at Ansbach University of Applied Sciences. He also worked as a sports commentator for Eurosport.

In 2016, he became the head coach at a biathlon training center in Switzerland. He coached young biathletes there for two years. In April 2018, he was chosen to be the head coach of the United States men's biathlon team. After one season, in May 2019, he became the head coach for the Polish women's biathlon team.

Biathlon Results

All results are from the International Biathlon Union.

Olympic Games Medals

Michael Greis won 3 gold medals at the Olympic Games.

Event	Individual	Sprint	Pursuit	Mass start	Relay
2002 Salt Lake City	—	15th	16th	N/A	—
2006 Turin	Gold	33rd	8th	Gold	Gold
2010 Vancouver	10th	21st	5th	10th	5th

• Mass start was added as an event in 2006.

World Championships Medals

Michael Greis won 12 medals at the World Championships: 3 gold, 3 silver, and 6 bronze.

Event	Individual	Sprint	Pursuit	Mass start	Relay	Mixed relay
2002 Oslo Holmenkollen	N/A	N/A	N/A	19th	N/A	N/A
2003 Khanty-Mansiysk	—	29th	DNS	—	—	N/A
2004 Oberhof	—	5th	9th	21st	Gold	N/A
2005 Hochfilzen	Silver	6th	5th	10th	6th	Bronze
2007 Antholz-Anterselva	Silver	19th	12th	Gold	Bronze	5th
2008 Östersund	36th	—	—	13th	Bronze	Gold
2009 Pyeongchang	19th	7th	13th	DNF	Bronze	Bronze
2011 Khanty-Mansiysk	7th	9th	11th	20th	7th	Silver
2012 Ruhpolding	11th	26th	23rd	22nd	Bronze	—

• During Olympic seasons, competitions are only held for events not included in the Olympic program.
  • The mixed relay was added as an event in 2005.

Individual Victories

Michael Greis won 11 individual races in his career.

Season	Date	Location	Discipline	Level
2004–05 1 victory (1 In)	9 February 2005	Turin	20 km individual	Biathlon World Cup
2005–06 2 victories (1 In, 1 MS)	11 February 2006	Turin	20 km individual	Winter Olympic Games
	25 February 2006	Turin	15 km mass start	Winter Olympic Games
2006–07 2 victories (1 Sp, 1 MS)	14 December 2006	Hochfilzen	10 km sprint	Biathlon World Cup
	11 February 2007	Antholz-Anterselva	15 km mass start	Biathlon World Championships
2007–08 4 victories (2 Sp, 2 Pu)	12 January 2008	Ruhpolding	10 km sprint	Biathlon World Cup
	13 January 2008	Ruhpolding	12.5 km pursuit	Biathlon World Cup
	18 January 2008	Antholz-Anterselva	10 km sprint	Biathlon World Cup
	29 February 2008	Pyeongchang	12.5 km pursuit	Biathlon World Cup
2008–09 2 victories (1 In, 1 Sp)	3 December 2008	Östersund	20 km individual	Biathlon World Cup
	19 March 2009	Trondheim	10 km sprint	Biathlon World Cup

• These results include races from the Biathlon World Cup, Biathlon World Championships, and the Winter Olympic Games.

See also

In Spanish: Michael Greis para niños

• List of multiple Olympic gold medalists in one event