At the first World Cup since the death of Norwegian biathlete Sivert Bakken, overall World Cup leader Johan-Olav Botn and teammate Sturla Holm Laegreid will be absent due to illness. Before the competitions in Oberhof, Norway’s team manager Per Arne Botnan spoke of an “unusual weekend”.
As the Norwegian association announced, Botn and Laegreid are ill and cannot compete. Instead, Sverre Dahlen Aspenes and Martin Nevland, who is celebrating his World Cup debut, are in the Norwegian squad.
“I would have loved to have taken part, perhaps especially this time. At the same time, I need to take care of my health and therefore this is the only right decision“, says Botn, who is currently 113 points ahead of Frenchman Eric Perrot (447 points) in the overall World Cup. Laegreid is currently in sixth place in the overall standings with 333 points.
For the Norwegian team, the World Cup is the first after the death of teammate Sivert Guttorm Bakken. “It will be an unusual weekend for all of us. The most important thing now is to look after each other and ensure that athletes have a safe and good experience after a challenging holiday season“said Norway’s team manager Per Arne Botnan.
Norway’s team manager Per Arne Botnan
Botn found Bakken lifeless in the hotel room
The 27-year-old Bakken was found dead in his hotel room in Lavazè, Italy, on December 23rd by his friend and teammate Botn. They had been there with other teammates for training and had arranged to go skiing in the morning. When he was found, Bakken was wearing an altitude training mask. The cause of death remains unclear; the results of the autopsy could not be available until March.
It was “an absolute state of shock and pure panic” when he realized that his long-time companion was no longer alive, Botn said in an interview with the Norwegian broadcaster TV2. “I saw that his face was completely lifeless and white as a sheet. I immediately understood that he was dead. It was a state of shock in which you don’t feel anything, you just try to help“, he continued. He thinks a lot about the family and wants to meet with them too.
Botn: “I have some images in my head that I have to live with”
Botn has sought the help of a psychologist. “II have some images in my head that I’ve realized I’ll have to live with for the rest of my life. I think it’s wise to find a way to live with these images“, he said. After the shocking experience, he questioned a lot of things. “Everything seems very pointless when something like that happens“Botn said.
But he knows how important biathlon was for Bakken, who fought his way back into the World Cup after a two-year break. “If I had lost motivation, I think I would have disappointed Sivert. We worked towards this together. I know exactly what Sivert would expect from me: that I train and become as good as possible. The goal is clearer than ever” said Botn, who is helped by the return to everyday training.