“You were a role model”: who was Sivert Guttorm Bakken, biathlete who died at 27 in his hotel room in Italy?

The news shook Norwegian and even world biathlon: Sivert Guttorm Bakken was found dead in his hotel room in Italy. While training with his teammates at the Col du Lavazè, in the Dolomites, the Norwegian lost his life at just 27 years old, a few hours after participating in the World Cup round at Grand-Bornand. A tragedy.

The circumstances of his death are still unknown. In a press release, the Norwegian Federation assured that it was cooperating “fully with the Italian authorities on site” to shed light on this sudden death. A crisis and psychological support unit has been set up for his loved ones and teammates.

On Instagram, some of them expressed their sadness and paid tribute to Sivert Guttorm Bakken. “You were back at the top of the podium, at the top of Norway’s highest mountains and at the top of your life,” Vetle Christiansen wrote on Instagram. The more you practiced, the more you smiled. You were the epitome of dedication. »

Words shared by Sturla Laegreid, also a member of the Norwegian biathlon team. “Sivert, you were one of the bravest,” he wrote. You had the ability to get out of the most difficult situations. Where everyone else would have given up, you gave it your all. You were a model, a source of inspiration, you had an unwavering will that the rest of us could only dream of. Thanks for everything. »

A first big victory in 2022

Selected for the first time in the World Cup at Oberhof in January 2021, Sivert Guttorm Bakken won his only victory at this level on March 20, 2022, during the mass start in Oslo. Revelation of the season, he finished in 9th place in the general classification, even winning the small mass start globe.

However, his rise was brought to a halt a few months later due to a heart problem. In an interview with Norwegian television TV2, the biathlete announced that he was taking a break from his career to treat this problem. Doctors from his Federation estimated that his myocarditis was due to the third dose of the Covid-19 vaccine.

Still performing well in Grand-Bornand

Two years later, in November 2024, he returned to competition. This season, he was in 13th place in the general World Cup rankings. At Le Grand-Bornand, he notably finished 5th in the sprint, before finishing 18th in the pursuit and 20th in the mass start.

“Sivert was an exceptional athlete and person, immensely loved by the entire biathlon community,” said Emilie Nordskar, the acting general secretary of the Norwegian Federation. “He was finally back where he wanted to be. He proved it to all of us. He still had a great career ahead of him, I’m sure, and he could have gone very far,” said Johannes Thingnes Boe, his former teammate, to NRK.