Johannes Thingnes Bö is the most successful biathlon star in recent years. At the age of 29, after Ole Einar Björndalen and Martin Fourcade, he is already considered to be the greatest biathlete of all time and a superstar in his sport. In the meantime, however, successes in the World Cup, at World Championships or at the Olympics have lost their importance for the Norwegian, as he now admits himself.
Before the start of the new World Cup season 2022/2023, Bö explained to “TV2” why victories in biathlon no longer felt like they did almost eight years ago when he won his first of a total of twelve World Cups in Kontiolahti in spring 2015 titles.
“Of all those who have won many World Cup races, no one will say that the last win was as good as the first five,” said the top athlete, who has been overall World Cup winner three times.
Even at the Olympics, he recently “had a lot of fun with my gold medals, but the actual euphoria for victory has probably evaporated for a few years,” explained Bö, who was the biathlon superstar par excellence in Beijing this year with four gold medals and one bronze medal.
Third place in the all-time best list in the Biathlon World Cup
As the Norwegian explained, the feeling of excitement at the moment of triumph has now given way to other emotions: “Now it’s more of a feeling of contentment, calm and serenity. It confirms the work I’ve done before and during the races.”
He is also certain that in the near future another great talent will rise to challenge his status as currently the best biathlete in the world. “I just hope it takes as long as possible for a 19- or 20-year-old guy to show up and sweep everyone away,” Bö said humorously.
Johannes Thignes Bö can look back on 52 World Cup victories in his extremely successful biathlon career and is now in third place in the all-time list behind the legends Björndalen (94 World Cup victories) and Fourcade (79). In addition, there have been eight Olympic medals so far and an incredible 24 World Cup medals.