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When the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics come to an end in a few weeks, so will Paul Schommer’s competitive biathlon career.
The Appleton native is retiring from the sport that’s given him so much with perhaps a few regrets, but also a lifetime of memories and ambitious plans for his future.
Schommer, 33, is competing in his second Winter Olympics as part of the United States biathlon team, four years after he made the Olympic team for the first time.
The Olympics were an improbable dream for a younger Schommer, who didn’t pick up the sport until after high school at The College of St. Scholastica, so to be able to compete on the world’s biggest stage for a second time and then walk away on his own terms is a blessing.
“I’m super grateful for the opportunity that I’ve had,” Schommer said during a recent phone interview from Italy. “I think that when I look back to when I first started biathlon, I really didn’t foresee myself still being here as a 33-year-old, going to my second Olympics. I think that’s far beyond what I may have even thought was capable at the time, especially if I go back to high school me who didn’t even really know what the sport of biathlon was.
“I have been extremely lucky what I've been able to do. [I’m] extremely grateful for the opportunities and the experiences, but I’m definitely ready for that next step.”
The road to Italy and a second Olympic Games hasn’t been easy for Schommer since placing seventh in the mixed relay event at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.
He injured his left knee in 2023 and eventually would undergo a couple of surgeries, leaving him unable to train, much less compete. He would ski for 30 minutes and his knee would immediately swell up for a couple of days.
Because he wasn’t competing and wasn’t part of the national team at the time, he didn’t have access to some of the resources that were available in the past in terms of training facilities, health insurance and financial support.
Schommer was also dealing with some things in his personal life at the time, all of which left him wondering about his future – on and off the skis.
VOTE NOW: Vote for the Piggly Wiggly Post-Crescent high school team of the month for January
It wasn’t until June 2024, after a visit to the Steadman Clinic in Vail, Colorado, that Schommer truly felt like his knee was progressing to a point where he could commit to training and returning to the sport.
He didn’t get back to Europe until January 2025 – for his first international race since 2023 – and slowly worked his way back to the point where making the Olympic team became a realistic goal again.
“I wish it would have been maybe a little bit smoother road in some ways, definitely would have caused a lot less anxiety and stress at times,” Schommer said. “But at the same time, I think going through a lot of those different trials really refines you in ways that you don’t really realize, in ways that you don’t have when it’s all smooth sailing.”
Schommer, who was officially named to this year’s U.S. team Jan. 6 following trials in Antholz, Italy, is guaranteed to compete in three events at this year’s Games – individual, sprint and men’s relay. His first race will be Feb. 10 in the individual event, where he placed 35th in Beijing.
Biathlon is the only sport in which the United States hasn’t won an Olympic medal, something this year’s team is hoping to rectify.
“I think for me as an individual that it would be a miracle to get that individual medal,” Schommer said. “But I think in the relay that’s something that has been talked about, that we are hopeful for, but also know that it’s going to take a lot. Nothing’s given to you easily at the Olympics. Everyone’s there to do their best, to represent their country and hopefully bring home a medal. We go into it with the expectation that no one’s going to give it to us, so we got to show up ready to compete.”
Schommer said having the Olympic experience from 2022 under his belt allows him to approach this year’s Games with a little less stress or fear of the unknown. He’s also competed on the course that will be used for the Olympics during international competitions, so that familiarity will help.
Unlike 2022, when COVID-19 travel restrictions were in place, this time Schommer will have some family and friends on hand in Italy to cheer him on.
He goes into his final competition without any expectations.
“I think part of enjoying that experience and doing the best that I can is showing up and having the best performance that I can,” he said.
No matter how his final competition goes as a competitive racer, Schommer is ready for the next stage of his life.
He knows the transition from world-class athlete to civilian will be huge, but it’s one he is looking forward to making.
He has a camper van that he lives in, and he plans to travel around for a while and have some adventures he hasn’t had time to pursue while training and competing.
“Now that I’m kind of going to have a little break after biathlon, I’m kind of hopeful to take advantage of that time and really go see some places that I have always dreamed of seeing, maybe doing some things that I always dreamed of doing that I never really thought I would have an opportunity to do and see what happens,” he said.
VOTE NOW: Choose from seven nominees for Cellcom Post-Crescent athlete of the week
Whenever that adventure ends, Schommer said he plans to return to Wisconsin and the Fox Valley and hopes to give back to the sport that has given him so much.
He has talked about working with the Ariens Nordic Center in Brillion to help promote and grow the sport of biathlon.
Schommer is at peace with his decision to retire and is excited about what’s next, although he knows there are parts of his athletic life he will miss.
“Had I walked away and not been able to compete anymore with my knee two years ago, I would have been very satisfied on what I accomplished as an athlete,” he said. “But these last two years have really given me something that I didn’t really know the sport would ever give me. Having this group of friends and teammates, just truly kind of a family, to finish out my biathlon career has been really special.”
This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: Appleton's Paul Schommer will compete in biathlon at Winter Olympics
Continue reading...
The Appleton native is retiring from the sport that’s given him so much with perhaps a few regrets, but also a lifetime of memories and ambitious plans for his future.
Schommer, 33, is competing in his second Winter Olympics as part of the United States biathlon team, four years after he made the Olympic team for the first time.
The Olympics were an improbable dream for a younger Schommer, who didn’t pick up the sport until after high school at The College of St. Scholastica, so to be able to compete on the world’s biggest stage for a second time and then walk away on his own terms is a blessing.
“I’m super grateful for the opportunity that I’ve had,” Schommer said during a recent phone interview from Italy. “I think that when I look back to when I first started biathlon, I really didn’t foresee myself still being here as a 33-year-old, going to my second Olympics. I think that’s far beyond what I may have even thought was capable at the time, especially if I go back to high school me who didn’t even really know what the sport of biathlon was.
“I have been extremely lucky what I've been able to do. [I’m] extremely grateful for the opportunities and the experiences, but I’m definitely ready for that next step.”
Paul Schommer faced obstacles to return to Olympics
The road to Italy and a second Olympic Games hasn’t been easy for Schommer since placing seventh in the mixed relay event at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.
He injured his left knee in 2023 and eventually would undergo a couple of surgeries, leaving him unable to train, much less compete. He would ski for 30 minutes and his knee would immediately swell up for a couple of days.
Because he wasn’t competing and wasn’t part of the national team at the time, he didn’t have access to some of the resources that were available in the past in terms of training facilities, health insurance and financial support.
Schommer was also dealing with some things in his personal life at the time, all of which left him wondering about his future – on and off the skis.
VOTE NOW: Vote for the Piggly Wiggly Post-Crescent high school team of the month for January
It wasn’t until June 2024, after a visit to the Steadman Clinic in Vail, Colorado, that Schommer truly felt like his knee was progressing to a point where he could commit to training and returning to the sport.
He didn’t get back to Europe until January 2025 – for his first international race since 2023 – and slowly worked his way back to the point where making the Olympic team became a realistic goal again.
“I wish it would have been maybe a little bit smoother road in some ways, definitely would have caused a lot less anxiety and stress at times,” Schommer said. “But at the same time, I think going through a lot of those different trials really refines you in ways that you don’t really realize, in ways that you don’t have when it’s all smooth sailing.”
United States seeks first Olympic medal in biathlon
Schommer, who was officially named to this year’s U.S. team Jan. 6 following trials in Antholz, Italy, is guaranteed to compete in three events at this year’s Games – individual, sprint and men’s relay. His first race will be Feb. 10 in the individual event, where he placed 35th in Beijing.
Biathlon is the only sport in which the United States hasn’t won an Olympic medal, something this year’s team is hoping to rectify.
“I think for me as an individual that it would be a miracle to get that individual medal,” Schommer said. “But I think in the relay that’s something that has been talked about, that we are hopeful for, but also know that it’s going to take a lot. Nothing’s given to you easily at the Olympics. Everyone’s there to do their best, to represent their country and hopefully bring home a medal. We go into it with the expectation that no one’s going to give it to us, so we got to show up ready to compete.”
Schommer said having the Olympic experience from 2022 under his belt allows him to approach this year’s Games with a little less stress or fear of the unknown. He’s also competed on the course that will be used for the Olympics during international competitions, so that familiarity will help.
Unlike 2022, when COVID-19 travel restrictions were in place, this time Schommer will have some family and friends on hand in Italy to cheer him on.
He goes into his final competition without any expectations.
“I think part of enjoying that experience and doing the best that I can is showing up and having the best performance that I can,” he said.
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Schommer hopes to grow sport of biathlon back home
No matter how his final competition goes as a competitive racer, Schommer is ready for the next stage of his life.
He knows the transition from world-class athlete to civilian will be huge, but it’s one he is looking forward to making.
He has a camper van that he lives in, and he plans to travel around for a while and have some adventures he hasn’t had time to pursue while training and competing.
“Now that I’m kind of going to have a little break after biathlon, I’m kind of hopeful to take advantage of that time and really go see some places that I have always dreamed of seeing, maybe doing some things that I always dreamed of doing that I never really thought I would have an opportunity to do and see what happens,” he said.
VOTE NOW: Choose from seven nominees for Cellcom Post-Crescent athlete of the week
Whenever that adventure ends, Schommer said he plans to return to Wisconsin and the Fox Valley and hopes to give back to the sport that has given him so much.
He has talked about working with the Ariens Nordic Center in Brillion to help promote and grow the sport of biathlon.
Schommer is at peace with his decision to retire and is excited about what’s next, although he knows there are parts of his athletic life he will miss.
“Had I walked away and not been able to compete anymore with my knee two years ago, I would have been very satisfied on what I accomplished as an athlete,” he said. “But these last two years have really given me something that I didn’t really know the sport would ever give me. Having this group of friends and teammates, just truly kind of a family, to finish out my biathlon career has been really special.”
This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: Appleton's Paul Schommer will compete in biathlon at Winter Olympics
Continue reading...
