Bakken, a Norwegian athlete, passes away at age 27

The International Biathlon Union announced on Tuesday that 27-year-old Norwegian biathlete Sivert Guttorm Bakken had passed away.

Bakken was discovered dead in his hotel room in Lavaze, in the Italian Alps, where he had been attending a training session, according to local media.

In February, he was competing for a spot on Norway’s Winter Olympics roster after winning his first and only individual Biathlon World Cup at Holmenkollen in 2022.

After battling myocarditis in 2022, Bakken resumed competition in 2024.

“Sivert’s comeback to biathlon after a period of great hardship was a source of immense joy for everyone in the biathlon family and an inspiring demonstration of his resilience and determination,” Olle Dahlin, president of the IBU, said in a

“His passing at such a young age is impossible to comprehend but he will not be forgotten and he will forever remain in our hearts.”