Biathlon Legend Johannes Thingnes Bø Bids Farewell, Leaving a Lasting Impact
Men's biathlon is on the brink of an exciting season ahead.
Get ready for an emotional farewell at Holmenkollen! Thousands are eager to witness the final race of biathlon superstars Johannes Thingnes Bø and his brother Tarjei Bø. But will Johannes secure that final dream – a sixth overall World Cup title?
Norway's biathlon icon, Ole Einar Bjørndalen, can't believe this career is ending. "He's still so young," said the 51-year-old, baffled that Johannes Thingnes Bø is retiring at just 31.
Even the prospect of more Olympic medals in less than a year couldn't sway Bø. So, it's adieu from Friday, to perhaps the greatest biathlete in history – right at his home turf of Holmenkollen.
Eternal Achievements
Tickets to bid farewell to Johannes Thingnes Bø and his five-year-older brother Tarjei Bø at their home race are a hot commodity. The younger brother has won 23 World Championship golds and five Olympic golds, accumulating a total of 90 career victories. Only Bjørndalen boasts more, with 95. Tarjei Bø has 12 World Championship titles and three Olympic golds to his name. Both brothers dominated their sport for over a decade, leaving a significant void, not just in Norway.
"I Don't Need to Train to Win"
"I don't have enough motivation to continue for another year," Bø admitted in January, shocking many as he tearfully announced in Ruhpolding that his unprecedented career would end a year sooner than planned.
It's not about his performance, as Bø would likely have added more medals to his eight at the 2026 Olympics. "I know I could win more because I have an incredible gift. I barely have to train to win," Bø said of himself.
But the grind of summer training, endless kilometers on the track, and many days away from his family – Bø is done with it all. "It takes a lot from you and the people around you to stay at the top in your sport," he said. The five-time overall World Cup winner is looking forward to spending quality time with his family, including wife Hedda and children Gustav and Sofia.
A Successor is on the Horizon
"Races and points don't matter as much when you have a family," Bø said. Still, he wanted to bid farewell to his home crowd with a sixth overall World Cup title. However, that dream seems unlikely now, as Bø was forced to miss the World Cup in Slovenia due to illness.
The 28-year-old Sturla Holm Lægreid is currently leading the overall World Cup standings with 104 points ahead of Bø's final sprint. While up to 270 points are still up for grabs in the three remaining races, Lægreid is unlikely to relinquish his lead. Lægreid is considered the successor to Bø, and other Norwegian talents are eagerly waiting for their chance.
Pushing the Limits of Biathlon
German sports director Felix Bitterling believes biathlon will "certainly continue, but it will be different" without Johannes Thingnes Bø. The sport is losing its face and must find a worthy successor. "He is absolutely unique," said brother Tarjei Bø: "What can I say? He has an incredible power." The gifted long-distance skier Johannes also pushed the boundaries of the possible in shooting and is largely responsible for the fact that shooting is now done much faster and with much more risk than before his time.
Bø is "running like he's from another planet," said Bitterling. Eight-time Olympic champion Ole Einar Bjørdalen, who was recently surpassed by Johannes Thingnes Bø as the record world champion at the World Championships in Lenzerheide, also called him "a legend." Bjørdalen, who is now a TV expert, recently retired at the age of 44 and managed to remain successful until the end. In 2016, he won his last World Championship title at the age of 42 – alongside the Bø brothers in the relay at Holmenkollen.
Sources: ntv.de, Thomas Wolfer, dpa
- Biathlon
- Winter Sports
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Johannes Thingnes Bø is a Norwegian biathlete born on May 16, 1993, in Stryn, Norway. He is an exceptional skier and shooter, widely regarded as one of the most successful biathletes in history. Bø represents Markane IL and has achieved numerous titles and records throughout his career, including multiple World Championship titles and Olympic medals. His influence on the sport is significant – pushing the boundaries of what is possible in biathlon and paving the way for a new generation of biathletes.
- Other sports might struggle to find an athlete as impactful as Bjørndalen is leaving a significant void, but other sports will also have to contend with the absence of Johannes Thingnes Bø, a Norwegian biathlete who has dominated his sport for over a decade.
- Despite Tarjei Bø and Johannes Thingnes Bø's retirements being a blow to the biathlon community, it's unlikely that the Bø brothers' success in the sport will ever be replicated. The siblings have won a combined total of 102 World Championship golds and 18 Olympic golds, a record that might prove impossible to surpass.
- Sturla Holm Lægreid, a young Norwegian biathlete, is poised to become the next big thing in the sport, but even he might find it challenging to match the accomplishments of Bjørndalen and the Bø brothers. Lægreid currently leads the overall World Cup standings and is considered the successor to Bø, but he has a long way to go before he can claim the same level of dominance as the biathlon legends.
