Norwegian biathlete Sivert Guttorm Bakken has been found dead in his hotel room in Lavaze, Italy. The Norwegian Biathlon Association said the cause of the 27-year-old’s death was unknown.
The International Biathlon Union, the sport’s governing body, said the athlete’s death had been confirmed by Italian authorities.
“The IBU is deeply shocked and saddened by the tragic news of Sivert Bakken’s sudden death,” the organisation’s president Olle Dahlin said.
“Sivert’s comeback to biathlon after a period of great hardship was a source of immense joy for everyone in the biathlon family and an inspiring demonstration of his resilience and determination.
Bakken won his first World Cup race in the 15-kilometre mass start in Oslo Holmenkollen in 2022.
After his successful 2021-2022 season, his career was halted due to heart problems, but after a long way back he has represented Norway in the Biathlon World Cup over the past few weeks.
Bakken competed in the World Cup event at Le Grand Bornand in France at the weekend and was 13th in this season’s overall standings.
Norwegian public broadcaster NRK said Bakken had travelled to Lavaze for a high-altitude training camp.
“His passing at such a young age is impossible to comprehend but he will not be forgotten and he will forever remain in our hearts,” Dahlin said. “The IBU’s thoughts are with Sivert’s family and friends, his team and all members of the Norwegian biathlon family at this very difficult time.”
In a post to Instagram, teammate Sturla Holm Laegreid called Bakken “one of the toughest”.
“You had the ability to work your way out of the worst situations. Where everyone else would have given up, you pushed on. Sivert, you were a role model, an inspiration, with a determination that the rest of us could only dream of,” Laegreid said.