Norwegian biathlete Sivert Guttorm Bakken died in Lavazé, Italy.
The Norwegian Biathlon Union announced that the cause of the 27-year-old’s death is unknown, and the athlete was found dead in his hotel room. The International Biathlon Union (IBU), the sport’s umbrella organization, announced that the Italian authorities confirmed the death of the athletewrites The Guardian.
IBU is deeply shocked and saddened by the tragic news on the sudden death of Sievert Bakkensaid the president of the organization Olle Dahlin.
Bakken won his first World Cup race in a mass start at 15 kilometers to Osloat Holmenkollen, in 2022.
After a successful 2021/2022 season, his career was discontinued due to heart problemsbut after a long recovery he represented Norway again in the World Cup in recent weeks.
Bakken competed in the World Cup event at Le Grand Bornand in France last weekend and was 13th overall this season.
Norwegian public broadcaster NRK said Bakken had traveled to Lavazé for preparations.
His departure at such a young age it is impossible to understandbut he will not be forgotten and will remain in our hearts forever. The IBU expresses its condolences to Sivert’s family and friends, his team and all members of the Norwegian biathlon family at this very difficult time, Dahlin said.
In a post on Instagram, his colleague Sturla Holm Lægreid called Bakken “one of the strongest“.
You had the ability to get out of the most difficult situations. Where everyone else would have given up, you kept going. Sivert, you were a role model and an inspiration, with a determination the rest of us could only dream of – wrote Lægreid.
(Fena | Photo: X)
