Norwegian Olympic hopeful dead at 27

Sivert Guttorm Bakken, a Norwegian biathlete who was hoping to marque the nationalist squad for the 2026 Milan Cortina Games, died during Olympic grooming campy successful Italy, officials said. He was 27.

Bakken’s decease was described arsenic "sudden."

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Norway's Sivert Guttorm Bakken successful enactment during the men's 10 km sprint connected Dec. 6, 2025. (Bjorn Larsson Rosvall/TT News Agency via REUTERS)

He was recovered dormant successful his edifice country successful Lavaze, successful the Trentino portion successful Italy, Norwegian media said. He was diagnosed with myocarditis successful 2022 and took a interruption from contention astatine the time. He returned successful 2024.

"The International Biathlon Union (IBU) is profoundly saddened to larn that Norwegian biathlete Sivert Guttorm Bakken has passed distant astatine the property of 27 during a grooming campy successful Italy," the sport’s governing assemblage said.

IBU President Olle Dahlin added that the athletics was saddened by his death.

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Sivert Guttorm Bakken of Norway competes during the men's 15km wide commencement contention astatine the biathlon World Cup successful Anterselva, Italy, Jan. 22, 2022. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader, File)

"The IBU is profoundly shocked and saddened by the tragic quality of Sivert Bakken’s abrupt death," Dahlin said. "Sivert’s comeback to biathlon aft a play of large hardship was a root of immense joyousness for everyone successful the biathlon household and an inspiring objection of his resilience and determination.

"His passing astatine specified a young property is intolerable to comprehend but helium volition not beryllium forgotten and helium volition everlastingly stay successful our hearts. The IBU’s thoughts are with Sivert’s household and friends, his squad and each members of the Norwegian biathlon household astatine this precise hard time."

Sivert Guttorm Bakken of Norway competes during the mixed relay contention astatine the Biathlon World Cup successful Otepaa, Estonia, March 13, 2022. (AP Photo/Roman Koksarov, File)

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Bakken was the reigning European champion successful the 10-kilometer sprint and 2 relays.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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