The last time he competed, the 26-year-old won a mass start in the World Cup. After years battling illness due to myocarditis likely caused by a COVID vaccine, the Norwegian biathlete is ready for a comeback.

Sivert Guttorm Bakken from Norway is setting the bar extremely high for his comeback: he intends to pick up where he left off in March 2022 at the top of the World Cup podium.

If patience medals were awarded, Sivert Guttorm Bakken would take gold with an extra star. This prodigious talent burst onto the world stage during the 2022 Olympic season, securing four World Cup wins and taking the overall title in the mass start cup. Since then, he’s been sidelined for over two and a half years.

Shortly after the season finale in 2022, Bakken developed myocarditis after a COVID vaccine and was forced to halt all physical training.

He has faced fear and despair and endured significant pain. But he never gave up, and last winter, he was finally cleared to resume training. Six months later, he’s ready for the national season opener in Sjusjøen this coming weekend.

The last time he was at the starting line was at the World Cup final in Holmenkollen in March 2022, where he won the mass start. He hasn’t competed since.

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Are you excited or nervous about the season start, competing again after so long?

“Honestly, I’m nervous, and I think about it. But I’m not worried about whether I’ll be third or tenth because I know I won’t be in the top ten. I’m just excited to compete again, to race hard for half an hour and shoot under the stress of competition. So, it’s the act of competing itself that I’m both excited and a bit nervous about.”

Looking ahead to the Olympics, hopefully 2026

The last time Bakken participated in the national season opener in Sjusjøen, in late 2021, he secured a spot on the World Cup team and remained there for the rest of the season. His ambitions this year, however, are entirely different.

“Right now, my goal is to improve as much as possible over the long term. So, for the opening competitions this year, I’m deprioritizing peak form now to be much better later on.”

When is “later”?

“Anything from the Olympics in Anterselva 2026 to the World Championships on home soil in 2029 and the 2030 Olympics.”

So that’s where the bar is set?

“Yes. Two years without training is a lot. But that’s what I’m aiming for,” Bakken says enthusiastically, adding, “I have a five-year perspective up to the 2030 Olympics. It’s very likely that I won’t be good enough to compete in the 2026 Olympics in Italy. Four men are selected for that, and it would take a lot for me to be one of them. But that doesn’t change anything. As long as I have a plan to be as well-prepared as possible in three to five years, I have no ambition to be in peak competitive form this season.”

A Home World Championship is Appealing

The fact that Holmenkollen was awarded the 2029 World Championships has boosted his motivation.

“A home World Championship is incredibly cool and a very natural goal for me. The 2026 Olympics are tempting, but realistically, my chances are small. However, having a World Championship on home soil three years later makes it a very relevant goal. I’ve performed well there before,” says Bakken, referring to his outstanding performance in the 2022 World Cup final mass start.

Do you have any dialogue with the national team?

“Not beyond the fact that I know people, so I talk to the athletes and coaches, and occasionally, I update Egil (Kristiansen) on my status.”

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Has Never Trained This Much

When Bakken received medical clearance last winter, he immediately started working on a comeback plan with coach Anders Brun Hennum, head of development for the Norwegian biathlon association.

In short, the plan was to train extensively, aiming for six hours a day.

“I’m training more than ever before. The focus is on volume, performing training properly, and finding a balance so that my body isn’t broken down more than it can recover from,” he says.

He explains that this approach is different from how he trained before falling ill.

“Back then, training was more about peaking, having reserves for hard sessions, and clear periodization to taper for important weekends to reach a peak. Now, there’s nothing like that, for the time being,” Bakken adds, acknowledging that it can be challenging.

“I feel it’s working well; I can handle the training I’m doing. And it’s hard to hold back and not overdo it.”

Also Read: Biathlon World Cup and World Championships: Calendar for the 2024/2025 winter season

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