Ten days after the tragic death of Sivert Guttorm Bakken, found dead in his hotel room, the shock remains intact for biathlete Johan-Olav Botn. The deceased’s teammate, who found his body, spoke about this moment of terror to TV2, a Norwegian media outlet.
“I had to pick up the car keys from his room for the skis and poles from the trunk. That’s where I found it. I was in a state of total shock, panic (…) It was very stressful. But I saw that he was completely inert and livid, I understood that he was dead,” says the Norwegian.
The biathlete explains that he tried to call for help, but was unable to make a connection. “It was only when the ambulance arrived that I began to understand what had happened,” he admits. It was already too late.
A controversy over a hypoxic mask
The Norwegian took the opportunity to return to the controversies linked to the event for ten days. Bakken wore a hypoxic mask, designed to restrict airflow and increase endurance capabilities. “I hope people respect his family, avoid making assumptions and wait until the investigation is complete to draw conclusions. Sivert has not done anything illegal, and we respect Norwegian law and WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) rules,” Botn said.
Since then, he has kept in touch with the family of his former teammate, towards whom he believes he has “a form of responsibility”. A meeting is already planned to speak together about the tragedy. Until then, Botn has already assured him: he will prioritize the funeral over the competition. “I need to get back to everyday life, to get back to training and my routines,” he promises. But I have an immense need to say goodbye to him one last time. I will prioritize the funeral over the World Cup. »
