Norwegian biathlete Sivert Guttorm Bakken was found dead in his hotel room in the Alpine village of Lavazè (Italy). He was 27 years old. The tragedy was reported by the Norwegian Biathlon Federation and Norwegian media. The cause of death has not yet been determined, and an investigation is ongoing.
Bakken was in Italy on a high-altitude training camp during the Christmas period following the World Cup stage in Annecy, France. In Lavazè, he was preparing for the continuation of the season together with other athletes, including the overall World Cup leader Johan-Olav Botn.
In a statement from the Norwegian Biathlon Federation, acting Secretary General Emilie Nordskar emphasized that the organization is in constant contact with the Italian authorities:
“Our thoughts are first and foremost with Sivert’s family and all those close to him. We are working closely with the Italian police on site. The cause of death is currently unknown, and it is up to the police to establish what happened.”
A representative of the Italian police confirmed that the investigation is ongoing and that the authorities are “still trying to understand exactly what happened.”
One of the leaders of the Norwegian team
Sivert Bakken was an active member of Norway’s main national team. In the current World Cup season, he performed consistently at a high level and finished in the top ten several times:
- Annecy – Le Grand-Bornand
Sprint 10 km — 5th place
Pursuit 10 km — 18th place
Mass start 15 km — 20th place - Östersund
Individual 20 km — 4th place
Sprint 10 km — 7th place
Pursuit 12.5 km — 9th place
Earlier, in 2022, Bakken won the mass start in Holmenkollen, which became his first and only individual World Cup victory (excluding relays). In the same season, he also won the mass start standings.
Return after a serious illness
After the 2021/22 season, Bakken suffered from severe myocarditis, a condition he spoke about openly in Norwegian media. Due to heart problems, he was forced to stay away from competition for more than two years and returned to the World Cup only last season after receiving medical clearance.
This season, he had once again established himself among the top athletes and was considered a real candidate for Norway’s Olympic team.
Reaction from the biathlon world
Italian biathlete Tommaso Giacomel, a close friend of Bakken with whom he was supposed to train on the day of the tragedy, posted an emotional message:
“We were supposed to train together today, but you didn’t show up. We were going to celebrate New Year’s together, but you are no longer here. I am completely devastated. This is pain not only for me, but for the entire biathlon family.”
Condolences were also expressed by his teammates from the Norwegian national team — Sturla Laegreid, Vetle Christiansen and Johannes Thingnes Boe — who highlighted Bakken’s talent, work ethic, love of life and his enormous role within the team.
Remembering the athlete
On Tuesday evening, a memorial ceremony was held in Lillehammer, attended by family members, friends, representatives of the Vingrom IL club, as well as clergy. Federation representatives emphasized that athletes and those close to Bakken will receive all necessary support.
