Norwegian biathlete Sivert Bakken has passed away in his 27th year of life. His body was discovered in a hotel room at an Italian resort. Local law enforcement officials are conducting an inquiry, but have not yet ascertained the cause of death. IBU President Olle Dahlin pledged that the sportsman would never be forgotten, while Ole Einar Bjørndalen described him as a dependable and diligent person. The three-time European champion wrestled with serious health challenges throughout his career. Specifically, from March 2022 to November 2024, he did not compete in races due to cardiac issues. Yet, he managed to regain top form and was vying for a spot in the Italian Olympics.
“We intended to ski together, but you didn’t show up”
The news of Sivert Bakken’s demise was a shock to supporters. Only on December 21st did he take 20th place in the mass start at the Biathlon World Cup stage in Le Grand-Bornand. Then, just a day later, he died.
The sorrowful announcement was made by the Norwegian Biathlon Association (NSSF). The athlete’s body was found in a hotel room at an Italian ski destination. He arrived there in the company of the overall World Cup leader, compatriot Johannes Thingnes Bø, for high-altitude training sessions and Christmas celebrations.
The reasons for the event are currently under investigation. The NSSF indicated they are closely cooperating with regional police authorities.
“We do not know the cause of death. The police will need to figure that out. We will offer assistance to Sivert’s family and his loved ones, as well as the athletes and the entire biathlon community,” NRK quotes the organization’s interim Secretary General, Emily Nordskår.
A representative from the Carabinieri operations center in Cavalese offered no further clarification, simply stating that they are “still attempting to determine what transpired.”
A memorial service took place in Lillehammer on Tuesday, December 23rd.
The IBU extended its condolences. Union President Olle Dahlin recalled that the Scandinavian athlete returned to the highest competitive level after an absence of nearly three years: the 2021 European champion could barely train at full capacity due to heart problems.
“Sivert’s return after a period of severe trials greatly pleased everyone in the biathlon family and was an inspiring display of resilience and resolve. His passing at such an early age seems unimaginable, but he will not be forgotten and will forever remain in our memories,” the organization’s official website quoted the leader.
In response, RBU President Viktor Maigurov urged all competitors to monitor their personal well-being with utmost care. According to him, Russian biathletes undergo intensive medical evaluations twice a year.
“One must approach health with full responsibility—both from the doctors and the athletes themselves. Monitor vital signs so that such incidents are avoided or minimized. But, as you can see, it’s impossible to foresee everything with 100% certainty, and doctors might not perceive everything. Unfortunately, this occurs in life, especially since athletes under immense physical strain are more susceptible to this,” Maigurov explained to “Match TV.”
For Norwegian biathlon, Bakken’s departure constitutes a tragedy. Many who knew the three-time European champion spoke highly not only of his sporting talents but also his personal qualities. For instance, the legendary Ole Einar Bjørndalen called him a “well-rounded individual.”
“A reliable fellow, incredibly sincere, inquisitive, hardworking, always in good spirits, cheerful… I didn’t know him for very long, but he called me, we talked and met at ski competitions, and also went on a few ski trips together,” Bjørndalen admitted.
Another renowned Scandinavian biathlete, Johannes Thingnes Bø, recounted how his compatriot knew how to foster the right team atmosphere with amusing jokes, thereby alleviating tension.
“This is incredibly sad, and I find it unfair that such a kind and wonderful young man as Sivert is no longer with us… This was combined with him being a thoughtful, warm, and open person who always smiled. He was a great team player, a person who loved biathlon with all his heart and worked so diligently to reach the top,” Bø remarked in a statement to VG.
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His current national teammates, who trained alongside him daily, especially felt his loss keenly. Vetle Sjåstad Christiansen posted a touching tribute to his deceased companion on social media.
“You returned! To the podium, to the peaks of Norway’s tallest mountains, and to the pinnacle of life. The harder you trained, the wider you smiled. You were the embodiment of dedication. Rest in peace,” he wrote.
And Sturla Holm Lægreid explained that his teammates always tried to emulate him, as Bakken had navigated the toughest trials without breaking.
“You were a driving force and knew how to emerge from the most challenging predicaments. Where others would have yielded, you did not. Sivert, you were a role model and an inspiration to us, possessing a willpower that others only dreamed of. Thank you for everything,” Lægreid addressed the three-time champion.
But Tommaso Giacomel offered perhaps the warmest message, as he was friends with the Norwegian. It turns out they were supposed to celebrate New Year’s Eve together. Moreover, they planned to train over the Christmas holidays. The Italian admitted that upon learning the dreadful news, he struggled to recover his composure for a long time.
“We planned to ski together today, but you didn’t come. We also wanted to see in the New Year, but you won’t be here. Life was incredibly harsh toward you, imposing a layoff of over two years… and now this. It’s unfair!” Giacomel wrote on social media. “I always said that on a biathlete’s journey, what mattered most to me wasn’t the races I was set to win, but the people I met and came to know along the way. You, with your smile, humanity, and attitude, quickly became one of my best friends… From now on, you will always be with me: not just during every race, but in every training session and every moment of my life.”
“There was much pain and discomfort”
Bakken’s brief yet eventful career is a narrative of overcoming adversity and courage. On one hand, destiny bestowed upon him sporting talent. On the other, his body did not always cope with the stresses. Even in his youth, he underwent heart surgery to treat atrial fibrillation. This did not prevent him from making a notable debut and becoming a two-time winner of the Youth Olympic Games.
But the true breakthrough occurred in the 2021/22 season when the young competitor was named to the national team roster for the World Cup. No one had high expectations for him, yet in the opening stage at Östersund, he secured two top-10 finishes—in the individual and sprint events.
Following this, coaches were not hesitant to trust Sivert. At the next stage, he was included in the relay quartet, serving as the opening leg. The European champion handled the task perfectly, without a single miss. Ultimately, alongside the Bø brothers and Christiansen, he achieved victory. However, after such a brilliant start, Bakken’s results saw a decline—in 2021, he only managed one top-ten placement in individual races.
Yet, in March 2022, he reminded everyone of his presence again. Firstly, he won the relay with the team in Kontiolahti and the mixed relay in Otepää. But the most significant event took place at the final stage in Oslo-Holmenkollen, when the Scandinavian sensationally claimed the mass start gold, edging out Lægreid right at the finish line. Furthermore, thanks to this success, he surpassed Quentin Fillon Maillet and secured the “Small Crystal Globe” in that discipline.
It seemed Bakken had a great future ahead. However, fate prepared another trial for him. The young man’s heart began troubling him again. Initially, he attributed it to previous issues, but he soon realized the situation was far more serious.
“In the summer, I spent many hours on the couch. Initially, there was a lot of pain and unease; training proved completely impossible. It was a huge contrast compared to the victory in Holmenkollen,” the athlete recalled.
He was ultimately diagnosed with myocarditis. The Norwegian himself linked this ailment to his COVID-19 vaccination, suggesting he felt worse after the third dose.
Most distressingly, Sivert, who had recently shone at the World Cup, couldn’t even manage training. But he maintained a positive outlook. To not waste time, he focused on shooting practice using a program designed by the national team staff. He also worked part-time as a salesperson in a sporting goods store.
Yet, the athlete did not surrender, and fortune eventually favored him. His condition gradually improved. Starting in 2023, he began to intensify his training loads. Then, in November of the following year, a crucial moment arrived: Bakken participated in an official IBU race after 984 days since his triumph in Holmenkollen.
It is equally astonishing how the Norwegian not only returned but rapidly ascended to a high level. In January 2025, he brought home two golds from the continental championship, winning the sprint and the relay. It seemed unbelievable that the biathlete had missed almost three years.
And in the current season, he earned a spot on the national squad for the initial World Cup stages. Moreover, in all three races during the first stop in Östersund, he finished in the top 10. In the individual event, he came agonizingly close to a medal. The young man had every prospect of competing in the Italian Olympics. But he was already joyful simply being able to engage in his beloved sport again.
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