Biathlon : after Johannes Thingnes, it’s Tarjei Boe’s turn to retire
Tarjei Boe was not yet satisfied. Sidelined in the sprint and pursuit at the Grand-Bornand (Haute-Savoie) Biathlon World Cup in December, the Norwegian brilliantly won the mass-start at the end of the Haute-Savoie weekend.
On Friday, on the slopes of Antholz (Italy), the Scandinavian once again impressed by winning the sprint of this transalpine stage. Winning ahead of Sturla Holm Lægreid by just 4 tenths, the 36-year-old biathlete worked hard to score a perfect 10/10 against the targets.
After his fifteenth victory on the circuit, the three-time Olympic champion was waiting for his return to the top step of the podium. In fact, just a few days after his brother, the native of Stryn (Norway) revealed that he would be calling time on his career at the end of the season.
In tears when he went into the mixed zone, Tarjei Boe took the time to find his words in front of the Norwegian journalists: “I promised myself that the next time I’m at the top, I’ll stop,” he told NRK. As soon as the race was over, one of the great names in his sport was quick to tell his wife, Gita.
“I felt it was the right time to stop”.Tarjei Boe at NRK
“I sent a message to Gita in the dressing room to tell her what I’m telling you now. She replied with a heartfelt message,” he said. Now I want to be more with her and those at home.”
And while the Olympic Games in Milan/Cortina (Italy) next year are on many people’s minds, the biathlete with eleven world titles couldn ‘t see himself putting off his career for another season. A lot of people are talking about the Olympic Games, but throughout the winter, I felt it was the right time to stop,” he admitted. I continued to be one of the best biathletes in the world this season and I wanted to perform at that level.”
It was news that the man himself had kept secret until the last moment. The announcement was similar to that made by his brother just six days earlier in Ruhpolding (Germany): “We can always surprise you. What could be better than winning a race and then finishing at the top? It’s magnificent”, congratulated Johannes Thingnes Boe, who was also moved in front of the cameras.
Read also
- A few days after his brother, Tarjei Boe announced the end of his career at the end of the winter.
- Antholz: Tarjei Boe wins the sprint by a whisker ahead of Sturla Holm Lægreid and Tommaso Giacomel, Eric Perrot in the top 10
