Norwegian biathlon athlete Sivert Guttorm Bakken, a potential contender for the Olympics, has tragically passed away at the age of 27. The International Biathlon Union expressed deep sorrow over the unexpected death of Bakken during a training session in Italy. The athlete was discovered deceased in his hotel room in the alpine town of Lavaze in the Trentino region of Italy, as reported by Norwegian TV NRK.
Bakken had been dealing with myocarditis, a heart condition diagnosed in 2022, which prompted him to take a hiatus from competitive biathlon. Despite his health challenges, Bakken had an impressive track record, holding the title of European champion in the 10-kilometer sprint and two relay events. He was gearing up to participate in the upcoming Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics and had clinched four World Cup wins, including the season-long victory in the mass start discipline for 2021-2022.
The President of the IBU, Olle Dahlin, expressed shock and grief over Bakken’s sudden demise, highlighting the athlete’s resilience and determination to make a comeback to biathlon. Dahlin emphasized that Bakken’s legacy would endure within the biathlon community, extending condolences to his family, friends, team, and the entire Norwegian biathlon fraternity during this challenging period.