Berlin (AP) – The four-time Beijing Olympic champion Johannes Thingnes Bö ends the biathlon season prematurely. The 28-year-old Norwegian will no longer take part in the World Cups in Kontiolahti, Finland and in Otepää/Estonia, nor in the home races at Oslo’s Holmenkollen.
“Both physically and mentally, the last year has been particularly challenging in terms of the Corona measures and the preparation for the Olympic Games. There hasn’t been room for a longer break since the last Games in 2018, so I’m now taking a break to work for to be well prepared and highly motivated for the next four years until the 2026 Olympics in Antholz,” Bö said in a statement from the association on Monday.
The twelve-time world champion Bö, who was the most successful athlete at the Beijing Games with four gold medals and one bronze medal, is only in fifth place in the World Cup before the last three stations. So he has almost no chance of getting his fourth overall win in a row. “Of course we respect Johannes’ decision and understand that last year was exhausting. He wants to stay in shape and has already set himself the goal of winning the overall World Cup next season,” said head coach Per Arne Botnan.
The Skijäger start this Thursday in Kontiolahti/Finland. The last races of the season take place in Oslo on March 20th.