Maren Hammerschmidt: Social Media Manager

Maren Hammerschmidt is a former German biathlete. After ending her active sports career, Marens daily structure and priorities changed significantly. She moved from a very performance-driven lifestyle with clear routines and goals into a more flexible and self-directed environment. This transition required her to redefine her role and find new ways to stay motivated and challenged.

The transition into her current role was partly natural but also evolved over time. Through her involvement in social media during her active career, Maren had already developed an interest in communication and media work. However, the professionalization of these skills and the deeper involvement in press and media relations really developed through the project. Having a very experienced and supportive mentor as a press officer was especially valuable during this phase. In addition, her many years of experience as an athlete working with the media helped her to better understand communication processes, media expectations, and how to interact professionally in different situations. This made it easier for Maren to adapt to her new role and to build a strong connection between athletes and media representatives.

The Athletes Involvement Project played a key role in supporting Marens transition by giving her a structured framework and the opportunity to gain practical experience within the federation. It allowed her to step into a professional environment while still having guidance and support. One specific moment where the project made a real difference was during the World Cup season and especially the Olympic period, when she was fully integrated into the press team. Taking responsibility for press releases and coordinating media activities in such a high-pressure environment showed her that she is capable of working at this level. This experience gave her a lot of confidence and confirmed that this career path is the right one for her.

In addition to her previous social media work, Maren was able to deepen her skills in writing professional press releases, organizing media events, and managing communication between different stakeholders. Thanks to the guidance of her mentor and her own experience as a former athlete, she was able to approach communication in a very targeted and authentic way.

“The project opened up opportunities that I likely would not have had access to otherwise. It allowed me to gain hands-on experience in media and communication at the highest level of international sport.” – Maren Hammerschmidt