Biathlon: World Cup comeback for Johan-Olav Botn
On 23 December, Norwegian biathlete Johan-Olav Botn found the lifeless body of his friend and team-mate Sivert Guttorm Bakken in his hotel room on the Col de Lavazè (Italy).
A month later, the former wearer of the yellow bib returns to competition this Thursday evening in the individual short at the World Cup in Nove Mesto (Czech Republic).
It’s been a difficult and special period,” he explained to TV2 fromthe Czech Republic. There have been a lot of ups and downs, with some very hard days and others that have been a little better.
“You gradually realise that he’s gone and that I won’t be seeing him again”.
Of course, this return to the World Cup without Sivert Guttorm Bakken is special for Johan-Olav Botn. “I feel like I’m skiing more with Sivert [Guttorm Bakken] than for Sivert [Guttorm Bakken]. He’s in my thoughts, he’s with me on the course and inspires me in that way,” he says.
It’s a strange feeling,” continues the Norwegian. I walk around expecting Sivert [Guttorm Bakken] to arrive for breakfast. He’s usually there. Then you gradually realise that he’s no longer there and that I won’t be seeing him again. You go through difficult moments in the course of a day no matter what, so I just try to deal with it.”
Victim of a respiratory infection in early January
Johan-Olav Botn missed the two German rounds at the beginning of January becausehe fell ill with a respiratory infection over the festive period .
It’s similar to what I had last year,” he reveals. Back then, I made the mistake of getting back into training too early and too hard. This time, I’ve tried to take it a bit easier, and it’s worked well so far.
Although the physical tests he has undergone so far show that he is not in top form, this will enable him to get back into competition just two weeks before the 2026 Olympics.
After the Czech races, Johan-Olav Botn will return to Lavazè for the first time since the tragedy there. ” It will be difficult, but I really like this place and I don’t want it to become something dangerous,” he says.
