Overwhelming sympathy
Deceased biathlete: Colleagues say goodbye
01/13/2026 – 5:28 p.mReading time: 2 minutes
The biathlon world says goodbye to Sivert Guttorm Bakken, who died at just 27 years old. He was buried in his homeland on Tuesday.
Norwegian biathlete Sivert Guttorm Bakken was buried on Tuesday morning in his hometown of Lillehammer. In the packed Nordre Al Church, family, friends and teammates said goodbye to the 27-year-old athlete.
The Norwegian men’s team interrupted their World Cup stay between Oberhof and Ruhpolding for the memorial service. She returns to Germany on Tuesday evening. Teammate Vetle Sjaastad Christiansen described the ceremony for Norwegian media: “It was beautiful. Above all, an incredibly worthy honor. But the beautiful and the sad often go hand in hand.”
Wreaths were laid on the white coffin. Next to the altar were two pictures of Bakken and several candlesticks. The turnout was overwhelming – long lines formed outside the church before the hour-and-a-half ceremony began.
Overall World Cup winner Sturla Holm Lägreid emphasized: “It was important for me to be here to say goodbye to Sivert. He will be with us throughout the season and until the Olympic Games.”
Tuesday was “a difficult day for everyone who is here, but it is also good that we have gathered to give Sivert a worthy farewell.” For people who were unable to travel to Norway, a small memorial service took place at the same time in a chapel in Ruhpolding.
Bakken was found dead in his hotel room at the Lavazè high-altitude camp in South Tyrol on December 23rd. The investigation into the cause of death is still ongoing. National coach Per Arne Botnan described the funeral as “a temporary farewell. We take many beautiful memories with us in our hearts.”