Biathlon
Death of Sivert Guttorm Bakken: Trento prosecutors say no suspects; autopsy pending
December 29, 2025 / La Gazzetta dello Sport
Italian prosecutors in Trento report there are no suspects in the death of Norwegian biathlete Sivert Guttorm Bakken, found dead during a pre‑Olympic camp at Passo Lavazè. An altitude-training hypoxic mask he was wearing has been seized, and an autopsy has been conducted, with results not yet public. Bakken’s family declined to appoint an independent expert; the Norwegian federation said it does not know the circumstances of the mask’s purchase and use, and the device is not considered doping.
Biathlon: Vetle Sjåstad Christiansen learned of Sivert Bakken’s death from teammate Johannes Dale-Skjevdal
December 29, 2025 / NRK Sport
Norwegian biathlete Johannes Dale-Skjevdal recounts the moment he called teammate Vetle Sjåstad Christiansen to tell him that Sivert Guttorm Bakken had been found dead during a private altitude camp in Lavazè, Italy, on December 23. Both athletes describe shock and grief, reflect on the use of simulated altitude devices after it emerged Bakken wore an altitude mask when found, and discuss how the team will handle the upcoming Oberhof World Cup while planning a memorial on Lillehammer. The cause of death remains unknown pending an autopsy.
German win, Italy’s absence and more: What happened at the Biathlon World Team Challenge
December 29, 2025 / La Gazzetta dello Sport
The article recaps the Schalke‑Arena exhibition in Gelsenkirchen held on 28 December, where Germany (Janina Hettich‑Walz and Justus Strelow) won the World Team Challenge for the first time in nine years. It notes a packed Veltins‑Arena, the event’s unique stadium format, and the emotional tribute to Norway’s Sivert Bakken, who died on 23 December. Italy did not field a team at the event.
Teammate’s anger after Bakken’s death: “Anti‑vaxxers are exploiting this”
December 29, 2025 / SVT Sport
Norwegian biathlete Vetle Sjåstad Christiansen condemned speculation surrounding the sudden death of teammate Sivert Guttorm Bakken, saying people without knowledge are pushing narratives about COVID vaccines and altitude-simulation masks. Bakken, 27, was found dead in an Italian hotel room on December 23; a preliminary autopsy report is expected soon. The Norwegian federation has said he was found wearing a high‑altitude mask, and Bakken previously experienced heart issues after COVID vaccination, details that have fueled misinformation online.
Biathlon: Sochi relay to receive Olympic gold at the 2026 Games
December 28, 2025 / Sportschau
Germany’s men’s biathlon relay from Sochi 2014 will finally receive their reallocated Olympic gold medals during the Milan–Cortina 2026 Winter Games. Arnd Peiffer confirmed on ARD that he, Erik Lesser, Daniel Böhm and Simon Schempp will be honored in Antholz following the final legal decisions that stripped Russia’s team of gold due to Evgeny Ustyugov’s doping case. Austria is upgraded from bronze to silver, and Norway moves up to bronze; only Austria’s Simon Eder remains active in the World Cup.
Shocking details about Sivert Guttorm Bakken’s death — coach Reijo Jylhä explains the Finns’ training methods and how they differ
December 28, 2025 / Yle
Finnish national team coach Reijo Jylhä reacts to reports that biathlete Sivert Guttorm Bakken was found with a high‑altitude simulation mask allegedly set to 7,000 m while already staying at 1,800 m in Lavazè, Italy. Jylhä stresses Finnish skiers do not use such oxygen‑restriction masks, outlining past Finnish practices such as supplemental oxygen at altitude, respiratory‑resistance masks, altitude rooms and ‘alpine houses,’ and earlier ‘smoke‑box’ style devices from the late 1980s–90s. Norway’s Olympiatoppen has advised athletes to avoid artificial altitude training pending clarification, and experts note no confirmed causal link between the mask and Bakken’s death.
Strelow and Hettich-Walz win “Biathlon auf Schalke” World Team Challenge
December 28, 2025 / Sportschau (ARD)
Germany’s Justus Strelow and Janina Hettich‑Walz won the exhibition World Team Challenge in Gelsenkirchen, securing victories in both the mass start and the pursuit before 40,000 fans. They beat France’s Lou Jeanmonnot and Fabien Claude, with Norway’s Juni Arnekleiv and Mats Øverby third. The article highlights Strelow’s near-perfect shooting, Hettich‑Walz’s strong pursuit, and the Norwegian pair’s tribute to the late Sivert Bakken.
Biathlon: Juni Arnekleiv will race to honor the late Sivert Guttorm Bakken
December 27, 2025 / NRK Sport
Norwegian biathlete Juni Arnekleiv says she will start at the Schalke show race to honor Sivert Guttorm Bakken, who died on Christmas Eve while at altitude training in Lavazè, Italy. The Norwegian federation has added support staff and coordinated with organizers, who will hold a minute’s silence in Bakken’s memory. World Cup racing resumes in Oberhof on 8 January, while an autopsy will be conducted in Italy; the cause of death remains unknown.
Norwegian biathlete Bakken was wearing a hypoxic mask when he died in Trentino
December 25, 2025 / La Gazzetta dello Sport
The Norwegian Biathlon Federation said 27-year-old Sivert Guttorm Bakken was found dead in a hotel room at Passo di Lavazè, Trentino, while wearing a hypoxic training mask that restricts oxygen intake. Authorities will conduct an autopsy in Italy, and the federation noted the circumstances of the device’s acquisition and use are unknown. Bakken had previously paused his career in 2023 due to pericarditis but had recently returned to World Cup competition.
Three U.S. biathletes named to 2026 Olympic team after Annecy WC3
December 23, 2025 / Adirondack Daily Enterprise
Margie Freed, Maxime Germain and Deedra Irwin have been objectively selected to the U.S. Biathlon team for the Milano‑Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics following World Cup 3 in Annecy‑Le Grand‑Bornand. They join dual citizen Campbell Wright, who prequalified earlier this year after winning two World Championship silver medals. The final U.S. Olympic biathlon roster—adding one objective and one discretionary pick per gender—will be completed Jan. 6 after timed trials in Antholz, pending USOPC approval.
Norwegian biathlete Sivert Guttorm Bakken dies at 27
December 23, 2025 / Sveriges Radio – Radiosporten
Norway’s biathlon federation announced that Sivert Guttorm Bakken has died at the age of 27. He was found in his hotel room in Lavazè, Italy; the cause of death is not yet known. Bakken competed in the World Cup in Annecy just last week, finishing fifth in the sprint, and was remembered by the federation’s acting secretary‑general Emilie Nordskar as a highly admired athlete and person.
Biathlon: Norwegian national-team athlete Sivert Guttorm Bakken dies after a sudden illness while on vacation in Trentino
December 23, 2025 / La Gazzetta dello Sport
Norwegian biathlete Sivert Guttorm Bakken, 27, was found dead in his hotel room at Passo Lavazè (Trentino) while on a short rest period with national teammates. A four-time World Cup race winner in 2021–22, he had paused his career in 2023 due to pericarditis and recently returned to the World Cup. The Norwegian federation expressed condolences and pledged cooperation with Italian authorities investigating the cause of death.