Biathlon: Norwegian national-team athlete Sivert Guttorm Bakken dies after a sudden illness while on vacation in Trentino

Norwegian biathlete Sivert Guttorm Bakken has died at the age of 27 after a sudden illness while staying at Passo Lavazè in Trentino, Italy. He was on a short break with members of the Norwegian national team when he was found lifeless in his hotel room after he did not appear for breakfast.

Bakken, born in Lillehammer on July 18, 1998, was a member of Norway’s national squad and had recorded four IBU World Cup victories between 2021 and 2022. In 2023 he was forced to halt competition due to pericarditis, but after nearly two years away he had returned to the World Cup circuit with Norway, the leading men’s program in the sport.

According to the report, teammates raised the alarm when they did not see him at the scheduled time. The team had been in Trentino to prepare for January’s World Cup stages and the run-up to the Milan–Cortina 2026 Olympic Games.

The Norwegian Biathlon Association issued a statement of condolence. “Our first thoughts go to Sivert’s family and all those closest to him,” said secretary general Emilie Nordskar. The federation added that it will fully support and cooperate with Italian authorities to clarify the cause of death.