It was the great emotions that were shown on Sunday afternoon at Osloer Holmenkollen: Johannes Thingnes and Tarjei Bö, no less than the most successful brothers in biathlon history, played a World Cup race for the last time on Sunday, and 23rd in the mass start. A little later they were duly celebrated by the thousands of domestic fans and their long -time teammates and competitors.
“It is a great story that we are now leaving this World Cup together. It was a very nice ride for us. And now it’s time to make it easy and to clear the stage for the next generation,” said Johannes Thingnes Bö am “ARD” microphone, after he had contested his last race as an 23-time world champion and five Olympic champion.
“Together with Tarjei for so long in the World Cup circus was a dream for me. We have reached so much together and can look back on many memories,” added the 31-year-old. It was also “the perfect end” without a last podium, Johannes Thingnes Bö continued: “We are very satisfied and proud with everything. We would like to thank everyone very much.”
The five-year-old brothers Tarjei, who had won twelve times World Cup gold and three times Olympic gold, fully agreed at the specially staged farewell party for the two: “The last few days here were simply incredible. We will keep it for our lives and always remember it. Now we are done, thanks to everyone.”
More time for families than the top goals
The brothers want to be more for their families in the future, the effort for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Antholz is too big for them. Johannes Thingnes Bö had recently crowned the sole record world champion in Lenzerheide with his titles 21 to 23 and had been replaced by legend Ole Einar Björndalen. In the World Cup he won 80 individual victories, plus the large crystal ball five times.
“The primal power” Johannes Thingnes had won enough “, his barely less successful brother Tarjei had said to be smug.