From zero to 100: Johan-Olav Botn from Norway has risen like a phoenix from the ashes and is shaking up the biathlon world. He wasn’t even part of the World Cup team last season and therefore even thought about changing nations.
It’s the perfect material for a cheesy Hollywood blockbuster and actually too surreal to be true: Johan-Olav Botn, who didn’t start a single World Cup last season, is shaking up the biathlon world elite. In the nine individual races in which he started, he was fastest three times. Fifth place in the mass start race on Sunday (December 21, 2025) is his worst placement of the season so far. This means that Botn even eclipses the World Cup starting record of the great Johannes Thingnes Bö.
Johan-Olav Botn in action at the World Cup in Le Grand-Bornand.
Botn – moving to Sweden is an issue
This bot is a shooting star, but not a newcomer. By Norwegian standards he is even a late starter. Botn, who comes from Staarheim, is already 26 and had to fall behind for a long time. It was only four years ago that he made his international debut in the second-tier IBU Cup. As second overall (2023/24) and third (2024/25), he was always at the top, but it wasn’t enough for a permanent place in the World Cup team.
Botn was so frustrated that he even considered changing nations. Sweden would have liked to sign Botn and his teammate Vetle Sjastad Christiansen, who was also willing to change, the high-flyer told “SVT Sport” on the sidelines of the World Cup in Le Grand Bornand.
Norway’s Johan-Olav Botn celebrates
Only after the Bö brothers Johannes Thingnes and Tarjei ended their careers was there room in the strong Norwegian biathlon team and Botn stepped up with strong preparation in the summer. He got one of the coveted places on the World Cup team, but the fairytale almost fell apart shortly before the season.
Doctors advised against starting
Before the opening singles in Östersund in November, the 26-year-old felt ill and complained of a sore throat. A rejection and Botn would have had to take a back seat again. So, against the advice of his trainer and doctor, he started. With the fastest time and 20 direct hits, Botn stormed to individual victory. A few days later he won the sprint and came third in the pursuit.
Botn risked everything – including his health. He was worried that if he didn’t start he would be threatened with the “punishment” of the IBU Cup again, he said later. A good two years ago – in January 2024 – Botn was close to making the World Cup team. At that time he got a starting chance in Oberhof and blew it – not because he was sick, but because of a “calculation error”.
He had the fastest time of all 99 athletes in the sprint, but instead of four penalty laps, he ran five and only finished 26th. He was demoted again to Oberhof. Last season, the mega-talent ran under the radar in the second division for the entire last season.
From the IBU Cup to the yellow jersey
Norway’s Johan-Olav Botn in action
The fact that Botn would so seamlessly close the gap left by dominator Johannes Thingnes Bö surprises everyone. Also Botn himself, who has been wearing the yellow jersey of the World Cup leader since Östersund and was suddenly 63,000 euros richer. He received this bonus for his successes at the start of the World Cup. He said later that he had earned more that week than he had in his entire life – by a wide margin.
He proved that Östersund was no flash in the pan in Hochfilzen and also in Annecy, where he won the pursuit. The new star in the biathlon sky, who used to move between district and world class at the shooting range, shone with top running times and is becoming a sniper. 97 percent hit rate is outstanding.
“He’s a machine, not a human”said the reigning overall World Cup winner Sturla Holm Lagreid recently about his teammate. His achievements don’t go his way. Botn is described as a meticulous worker, logging more training miles than anyone else and now reaping rewards for his hard work.