David Zobel
David Zobel has been involved in biathlon since his youth. In 2021, the Starnberg-born athlete made his World Cup debut and has since gradually established himself in the German national biathlon team. In the 2022/2023 season, he achieved his best-ever overall World Cup ranking to date with 24th place and secured his first World Cup podium finish with third place in an individual race. David also impressed with strong performances in the 2025/2026 season, including a ninth-place finish in the sprint at Ruhpolding, and qualified for the Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina. For David, passion, perseverance and an unwavering determination to keep improving are at the heart of his competitive sport.
3 questions for David
What motivates you?
My motivation is that every day I try to become a slightly better biathlete so that I can then perform at my best in competition. An additional motivation is that it’s a huge privilege to be able to turn my hobby into a career, and I don’t want to let that slip away.
What do you associate with the JOKA brand?
When I think of JOKA, I associate the brand with a sense of home, quality and consistency. I particularly like the story behind JOKA. A family business founded in 1919 has, over generations, evolved into a strong and modern brand.
I find it impressive that tradition and innovation are combined in this way, and that values such as trust, solidarity and reliability play such a major role. That’s exactly what makes JOKA more than just a brand to me – it’s a partner with whom I’m very happy to identify.
Do you have any particular rituals or habits before a competition?
Things tend to unfold in much the same way before a competition. I don’t have any specific rituals, but I do have a few habits. For example, I always have my last big meal three hours before the start. If the competition takes place at midday or in the afternoon, I do 15 minutes of breathing exercises afterwards so I can relax again. And just before I head off to the competition venue, I always text my girlfriend to let her know I’m on my way. So there are lots of little habits that perhaps could be considered a ritual.
