View source for Michael Greis

{{Short description|German biathlete (born 1976)}}
{{About|the German athlete|the American screenwriter|Michael Grais}}
{{Infobox biathlete <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Biathlon -->
| name              = Michael Greis
| image             = Michael Greis.jpg
| image_size        = 
| alt               = 
| caption           = Greis at the World Championships in [[Rasen-Antholz|Antholz-Anterselva]].
| fullname          = Michael Greis
| nickname          = Michi
| birth_date        = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1976|08|18}}
| birth_place       = [[Füssen]], [[West Germany]]
| death_date        = 
| death_place       = 
| residence         = 
| occupation        = 
| height            = {{height|m=1.77|precision=0}}
| weight            = 
| website           = 
| disciplines       = [[Biathlon]]
| club              = SK Nesselwang
| skis              = 
| rifle             = 
| wcdebut           = 28 February 2001
| retired           = 5 December 2012
| olympicteams      = '''3''' ([[Biathlon at the 2002 Winter Olympics|2002]], [[Biathlon at the 2006 Winter Olympics|2006]], [[Biathlon at the 2010 Winter Olympics|2010]])
| olympicmedals     = '''3'''
| olympicgolds      = 3
| worldsteams       = '''9''' ([[Biathlon World Championships 2002|2002]], [[Biathlon World Championships 2003|2003]], [[Biathlon World Championships 2004|2004]], [[Biathlon World Championships 2005|2005]], [[Biathlon World Championships 2007|2007]], [[Biathlon World Championships 2008|2008]], [[Biathlon World Championships 2009|2009]], [[Biathlon World Championships 2011|2011]], [[Biathlon World Championships 2012|2012]])
| worldsmedals      = '''12'''
| worldsgolds       = 3
| wcseasons         = '''13''' (2000/01–2012/13)
| wcraces           = 
| wcraceswithrelays = 
| wcwins            = '''11'''
| wcrelayswins      = '''21'''
| wcpodiums         = '''34'''
| wcrelayspodiums   = '''64'''
| wcoveralls        = '''1''' (2006–07)
| wctitles          = '''4:'''<br />'''3 Individual''' (2004–05, 2005–06, 2008–09);<br />'''1 Sprint''' (2006–07)
| show-medals       = 
| updated           = 
| medaltemplates    = 
{{MedalSport | Men's [[biathlon]]}}
{{MedalCountry | {{GER}} }}
{{Medal|Competition|[[Biathlon at the Winter Olympics|Olympic Games]]}}
{{MedalGold| [[Biathlon at the 2006 Winter Olympics|2006 Turin]] | [[Biathlon at the 2006 Winter Olympics - Men's individual|20&nbsp;km individual]]}}
{{MedalGold| [[Biathlon at the 2006 Winter Olympics|2006 Turin]] | [[Biathlon at the 2006 Winter Olympics – Men's mass start|15&nbsp;km mass start]]}}
{{MedalGold| [[Biathlon at the 2006 Winter Olympics|2006 Turin]] | [[Biathlon at the 2006 Winter Olympics – Men's relay|4 × 7.5&nbsp;km relay]]}}
{{MedalCompetition | [[Biathlon World Championships|World Championships]] }}
{{MedalGold | [[Biathlon World Championships 2004|2004 Oberhof]] | 4 × 7.5&nbsp;km relay }}
{{MedalGold | [[Biathlon World Championships 2007|2007 Antholz-Anterselva]] | {{nowrap|15&nbsp;km mass start }}}}
{{MedalGold | [[Biathlon World Championships 2008|2008 Östersund]] | Mixed relay }}
{{MedalSilver | [[Biathlon World Championships 2005|2005 Hochfilzen]] | 20&nbsp;km individual }}
{{MedalSilver | [[Biathlon World Championships 2007|{{nowrap|2007 Antholz-Anterselva}}]] | 20&nbsp;km individual }}
{{MedalSilver| [[Biathlon World Championships 2011|2011 Khanty-Mansiysk]] | Mixed relay}}
{{MedalBronze | [[Biathlon World Championships 2005|2005 Khanty-Mansiysk]] | Mixed relay }}
{{MedalBronze | [[Biathlon World Championships 2007|2007 Antholz-Anterselva]] | 4 × 7.5 km relay }}
{{MedalBronze | [[Biathlon World Championships 2008|2008 Östersund]] | 4 × 7.5 km relay }}
{{MedalBronze | [[Biathlon World Championships 2009|2009 Pyeongchang]] | 4 × 7.5 km relay }}
{{MedalBronze | [[Biathlon World Championships 2009|2009 Pyeongchang]] | Mixed relay}}
{{MedalBronze | {{Nowrap|[[Biathlon World Championships 2012|2012 Ruhpolding]]}} |  {{Nowrap|[[Biathlon World Championships 2012 – Men's relay|4 × 7.5 km relay]]}}}}
}}
 
'''Michael Greis''' ({{IPA|de|ˈmɪçaːʔeːl ˈɡʁaɪs|-|De-Michael Greis.ogg}}; born 18 August 1976) is a [[Germans|German]] former [[Biathlon|biathlete]].

==Career==
Greis first competed at the [[2002 Winter Olympics]] in [[Salt Lake City]], finishing 15th and 16th in the 10&nbsp;km sprint and 12.5&nbsp;km pursuit events in the biathlon.

Greis won the World Cup in the individual category in 2004/05, and was a member of the winning 4 × 7.5&nbsp;km relay team in the 2004 [[Biathlon World Championships]], and took silver in the individual 20&nbsp;km category at the 2005 World Championships.

At the [[2006 Winter Olympics]], Greis came into the games heading the World Cup standings and took the first Olympic gold of the games with victory in the [[Biathlon at the 2006 Winter Olympics#Individual .2820 km.29|individual 20&nbsp;km]] ahead of the defending Olympic champion [[Ole Einar Bjørndalen]].  He was also a member of the German team that won the [[Biathlon at the 2006 Winter Olympics#Relay (4 x 7.5 km)|4 × 7.5&nbsp;km relay]].

On 25 February 2006 Greis won the [[Biathlon at the 2006 Winter Olympics#Mass start (15 km)|men's 15&nbsp;km event]] and became the first person to capture three gold medals at the Turin Olympic Games. ([[South Korea at the 2006 Winter Olympics|Korean]]s [[Jin Sun-Yu]] and [[Ahn Hyun Soo]] became the second and third later on the same day with victories in [[Short track speed skating at the 2006 Winter Olympics|short track speed skating]].)

Greis was named German sportsman of the year, along with fellow biathlete [[Kati Wilhelm]], by journalists.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.vancouver2010.com/olympic-biathlon/athletes/michael-greis_ath1018035XP.html |title=Vancouver 2010 - profile |access-date=2010-08-13 |archive-date=2010-04-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100409033903/http://www.vancouver2010.com/olympic-biathlon/athletes/michael-greis_ath1018035XP.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In the [[2006-07 Biathlon World Cup|2006/07 World Cup]] season, Greis won the Overall and the Sprint competition.

In the [[2007-08 Biathlon World Cup|2007/08 World Cup]] season Greis managed onto the podium on a regular basis, attaining three victories, three 2nd places as well as three 3rds.  At the season's World Champs in Östersund Greis did not participate in the sprint and in the pursuit but being anchor both in the men's Relay and the mixed Relay, helped to secure a gold and a bronze for his team.

Prior to the [[2008-09 Biathlon World Cup|2008/09 World Cup]] season Greis had had a serious disagreement with the Germans' head coach [[Frank Ullrich]] the reason being Ullrich's authoritative management of the team, which resulted in Greis' departure from Ullrich's jurisdiction to train on his own. This yielded him quite a solid performance throughout the year, with another two World Cup victories and the relay bronze at the [[Biathlon World Championships 2009]] in South Korea.

Greis participated in the [[2010 Olympic Games]] in Vancouver, Canada which turned to be a disappointing performance for his fans as he finished in the mediocre 10th place twice, in the Individual and the Mass Start, along with coming 5th in the relay and the pursuit, adding to a streak of unsuccessful Olympic performances by the German biathlon male team when not a single German won any medal in biathlon for the first time in the Olympic history.

After the first round of the [[2012–13 Biathlon World Cup|2012–13 World Cup]], Greis announced his retirement on 5 December 2012 citing a lack of motivation, making the 20&nbsp;km in [[Östersund]] on 28 November his last competition as he had dropped the sprint and pursuit.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www2.biathlonworld.com/en/press_releases.html/do/detail?presse=1730 |title=Germany's Michael Greis Retires from Biathlon |last=Kokesh |first=Jerry |date=5 December 2012 |website=Biathlonworld |publisher=[[International Biathlon Union]] |access-date=3 June 2015 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150603131130/http://www2.biathlonworld.com/en/press_releases.html/do/detail?presse=1730 |archivedate=3 June 2015 }}</ref> After retiring, Greis studied International Management at [[Ansbach University of Applied Sciences]].<ref name=spiegel>{{cite web |url=http://www.spiegel.de/sport/wintersport/michael-greis-wird-biathlon-cheftrainer-der-usa-a-1205575.html|title=Greis wird Cheftrainer der US-Biathleten |last=Kinast |first=Florian |date=30 April 2018 |website=[[spiegel.de]]|language=German |trans-title=Greis will be head coach of US biathletes |access-date=20 January 2019}}</ref> He also worked as a pundit for [[Eurosport]].<ref name=ispo>{{cite web |url=https://www.ispo.com/en/people/michael-greis-german-biathlon-star-us-coach |title=Michael Greis: "I'm As Ambitious As Ever" |last=Becker |first=Thomas|date=12 May 2018|website=[[Internationale Fachmesse für Sportartikel und Sportmode]]|access-date=21 January 2019}}</ref> Subsequently in 2016 he was appointed as head coach at the national biathlon training centre for east Switzerland at [[Lenzerheide]], where he coached youth biathletes.<ref name=spiegel /><ref name=ispo /> After two years in this post, in April 2018 he was announced as head coach of the United States men's biathlon team.<ref name=spiegel /> After one season in this role, in May 2019 he was named as head coach for the Polish women's biathlon team.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://archiwum.thenews.pl/1/5/Artykul/420589 |title=German coach for Polish women's biathlon team |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=17 May 2019 |website=[[thenews.pl]] |access-date=7 December 2019}}</ref>

==Biathlon results==
All results are sourced from the [[International Biathlon Union]].<ref name="IBUprofile">{{cite web |url=http://services.biathlonresults.com/athletes.aspx?IbuId=BTGER11808197601 |title=Michael Greis |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |website=IBU Datacenter |publisher=International Biathlon Union |access-date=3 June 2015}}</ref>

===Olympic Games===
''3 medals (3 gold)''
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|- "
!Event
!style="width:70px;"|Individual
!style="width:70px;"|Sprint
!style="width:70px;"|Pursuit
!style="width:70px;"|{{nowrap|Mass start}}
!style="width:70px;"|Relay
|-
| align=left |{{flagicon|United States}} [[2002 Winter Olympics|2002 Salt Lake City]]
| —
| 15th
| 16th
| {{n/a}}
| —
|-
| align=left |{{flagicon|Italy}} [[2006 Winter Olympics|2006 Turin]]
| style="background:gold;"| '''Gold'''
| 33rd
| 8th
| style="background:gold;"| '''Gold'''
| style="background:gold;"| '''Gold'''
|-
| align=left |{{flagicon|Canada}} [[2010 Winter Olympics|2010 Vancouver]]
| 10th
| 21st
| 5th
| 10th
| 5th
|}
:''*Mass start was added as an event in 2006.''

===World Championships===
''12 medals (3 gold, 3 silver, 6 bronze)''
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|- "
!Event
!style="width:70px;"|Individual
!style="width:70px;"|Sprint
!style="width:70px;"|Pursuit
!style="width:70px;"|{{nowrap|Mass start}}
!style="width:70px;"|Relay
!style="width:70px;"|{{nowrap|Mixed relay}}
|-
| align=left |{{flagicon|NOR}} [[Biathlon World Championships 2002|2002 Oslo Holmenkollen]]
| {{n/a}}
| {{n/a}}
| {{n/a}}
| 19th
| {{n/a}}
| {{n/a}}
|-
| align=left |{{flagicon|RUS}} [[Biathlon World Championships 2003|2003 Khanty-Mansiysk]]
| —
| 29th
| DNS
| —
| —
| {{n/a}}
|-
| align=left |{{flagicon|GER}} [[Biathlon World Championships 2004|2004 Oberhof]]
| —
| 5th
| 9th
| 21st
| style="background:gold;"| '''Gold'''
| {{n/a}}
|-
| align=left |{{flagicon|AUT}} [[Biathlon World Championships 2005|2005 Hochfilzen]]
| style="background:silver;"| '''Silver'''
| 6th
| 5th
| 10th
| 6th
| style="background:#cfaa88;"| '''Bronze'''
|-
| align=left |{{flagicon|ITA}} [[Biathlon World Championships 2007|2007 Antholz-Anterselva]]
| style="background:silver;"| '''Silver'''
| 19th
| 12th
| style="background:gold;"| '''Gold'''
| style="background:#cfaa88;"| '''Bronze'''
| 5th
|-
| align=left |{{flagicon|SWE}} [[Biathlon World Championships 2008|2008 Östersund]]
| 36th
| —
| —
| 13th
| style="background:#cfaa88;"| '''Bronze'''
| style="background:gold;"| '''Gold'''
|-
| align=left |{{flagicon|KOR}} [[Biathlon World Championships 2009|2009 Pyeongchang]]
| 19th
| 7th
| 13th
| DNF
| style="background:#cfaa88;"| '''Bronze'''
| style="background:#cfaa88;"| '''Bronze'''
|-
| align=left |{{flagicon|RUS}} [[Biathlon World Championships 2011|2011 Khanty-Mansiysk]]
| 7th
| 9th
| 11th
| 20th
| 7th
| style="background:silver;"| '''Silver'''
|-
| align=left |{{flagicon|GER}} [[Biathlon World Championships 2012|2012 Ruhpolding]]
| 11th
| 26th
| 23rd
| 22nd
| style="background:#cfaa88;"| '''Bronze'''
| —
|}
:''*During Olympic seasons competitions are only held for those events not included in the Olympic program.''
:''**The mixed relay was added as an event in 2005.''

===Individual victories===
''11 victories (3 In, 4 Sp, 2 Pu, 2 MS)''
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Season
! Date
! Location
! Discipline
! Level
|-
| rowspan="1" style="text-align:center;"| '''[[2004–05 Biathlon World Cup|2004–05]]''' <br /> 1 victory <br /> (1 In) || 9 February 2005 ||{{flagicon|ITA}} [[Sansicario Torinese|Turin]]||20&nbsp;km individual||[[Biathlon World Cup]]
|-
| rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;"| '''[[2005–06 Biathlon World Cup|2005–06]]''' <br /> 2 victories <br /> (1 In, 1 MS) || 11 February 2006 ||{{flagicon|ITA}} [[Sansicario Torinese|Turin]]||20&nbsp;km individual||[[Winter Olympic Games]]
|-
| 25 February 2006 ||{{flagicon|ITA}} [[Sansicario Torinese|Turin]]||15&nbsp;km mass start||[[Winter Olympic Games]]
|-
| rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;"| '''[[2006–07 Biathlon World Cup|2006–07]]''' <br /> 2 victories <br /> (1 Sp, 1 MS) || 14 December 2006 ||{{flagicon|AUT}} [[Hochfilzen]]||10&nbsp;km sprint||[[Biathlon World Cup]]
|-
| 11 February 2007 ||{{flagicon|ITA}} [[Rasen-Antholz|Antholz-Anterselva]]||15&nbsp;km mass start||[[Biathlon World Championships]]
|-
| rowspan="4" style="text-align:center;"| '''[[2007–08 Biathlon World Cup|2007–08]]''' <br /> 4 victories <br /> (2 Sp, 2 Pu) || 12 January 2008 ||{{flagicon|GER}} [[Ruhpolding]]||10&nbsp;km sprint||[[Biathlon World Cup]]
|-
| 13 January 2008 ||{{flagicon|GER}} [[Ruhpolding]]||12.5&nbsp;km pursuit||[[Biathlon World Cup]]
|-
| 18 January 2008 ||{{flagicon|ITA}} [[Rasen-Antholz|Antholz-Anterselva]]||10&nbsp;km sprint||[[Biathlon World Cup]]
|-
| 29 February 2008 ||{{flagicon|KOR}} [[Pyeongchang]]||12.5&nbsp;km pursuit||[[Biathlon World Cup]]
|-
| rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;"| '''[[2008–09 Biathlon World Cup|2008–09]]''' <br /> 2 victories <br /> (1 In, 1 Sp) || 3 December 2008 ||{{flagicon|SWE}} [[Östersund]]||20&nbsp;km individual||[[Biathlon World Cup]]
|-
| 19 March 2009 ||{{flagicon|NOR}} [[Granåsen|Trondheim]]||10&nbsp;km sprint||[[Biathlon World Cup]]
|}
:''*Results are from UIPMB and IBU races which include the [[Biathlon World Cup]], [[Biathlon World Championships]] and the [[Winter Olympic Games]].''

==See also==
*[[List of multiple Olympic gold medalists in one event]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.michael-greis.de/ Official website]
* {{IBU name|BTGER11808197601}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-ach|aw}}
{{succession box|before={{flagicon|GER}} [[Ronny Ackermann]]|title=[[German Sportspersonality of the year|German Sportsman of the Year]]|years=2006|after={{flagicon|GER}} [[Fabian Hambüchen]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{IBU Hall of Fame}}
{{Footer Olympic Champions Men 20km Biathlon}}
{{Footer Olympic Champions Biathlon 15km Mass Start Men}}
{{Footer Olympic Champions Biathlon Relay Men}}
{{Footer World Champions Biathlon 15km Mass Start Men}}
{{Footer World Champions Biathlon Relay Men}}
{{Footer World Champions Biathlon Relay Mixed}}
{{Footer World Cup Champions Biathlon Men}}
{{Holmenkollen medal}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Greis, Michael}}
[[Category:1976 births]]
[[Category:Biathletes at the 2002 Winter Olympics]]
[[Category:Biathletes at the 2006 Winter Olympics]]
[[Category:Biathletes at the 2010 Winter Olympics]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Füssen]]
[[Category:German male biathletes]]
[[Category:Olympic biathletes for Germany]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2006 Winter Olympics]]
[[Category:Olympic medalists in biathlon]]
[[Category:Olympic gold medalists for Germany]]
[[Category:Biathlon World Championships medalists]]
[[Category:Holmenkollen medalists]]
[[Category:German cross-country skiing coaches]]
[[Category:21st-century German sportsmen]]