The former junior world champion Maren Bakken surprisingly explained the immediate end of her biathlon career. This was announced by the 23-year-old Norwegian on Monday evening on social media.
It was official, her career as a ski hunter comes to an end, wrote Maren Bakken in an Instagram post in which the Norwegian did not comment more about her motives.
“At the weekend I will play my last races and a new era of my life begins,” said the 23-year-old, who then thanked for the “beautiful friendships, memories and experiences” that she will “never forget”.
Bakken does not reveal what the next chapter of her life looks like. However, she indicated that the planning is already running. “New adventures are in Machen and I’m very excited,” she wrote.
Bakken leaves biathlon prominence behind the World Cup
A few years ago, Bakken had made a name for themselves, especially in the youth area and won a total of six medals at Junior World Championships in 2019, 2020 and 2023. Already at the first participation, the Norwegian gained a sprint world champion immediately and left the Amy Baserga, Anna Gandler, Hannah Ausengaller and Lena Repinc, who is active in the World Cup.
Most recently, Bakken was used on the professional tour in the 2022/23 season when she started six times in the IBU Cup, including two top 10 placements. At the Junior World Cup, she also celebrated the win of the bronze medal together with the Norwegian season. The 23-year-old was also at the start at the biathlon event on Schalke. There she ran in a team with Martin Uldal.
Bakken will compete the last races of her career next weekend at the Norwegian championships in Stklestad.