The sudden death of 27-year-old Norwegian Sivert Bakken shocked many in biathlon. Tommaso Giacomel was now overwhelmed by his emotions before the World Cup in Oberhof. He looks for his focus between grief and hope – and wants to dedicate something to his deceased friend.
Tommaso Giacomel couldn’t hold back his tears as he remembered his friend Sivert Bakken, who had died. “It goes up and down. I have a lot of negative thoughts, especially in the evening when I go to bed and close my eyes,” said the Italian biathlete at a press conference in Oberhof. “But I’m lucky that I have my girlfriend and my family at home. They’re a big help, without them it would be even harder.”
On Thursday (11.30 a.m./ARD and Eurosport), the ski hunters will complete the sprint at the World Cup in Oberhof, the first race since the Norwegian’s sudden death. Bakken’s teammate Johan-Olav Botn found the 27-year-old dead in his hotel room in Lavazé on December 23rd. He was wearing an altitude mask when he was found. The Norwegians were in Italy for altitude training. The results of the autopsy could not be available until early March.
Bakken’s funeral will take place next Tuesday in Lillehammer. Many members of the Norwegian team will be there, as team manager Per Arne Botnan confirmed to Norwegian media. They are flying to Norway on Monday in order to return to Germany after the funeral on Tuesday evening. The World Cup in Bavaria starts on Wednesday with the women’s relay.
“Sivert Bakken should be here and he’s not,” Giacomel said
It is not yet clear whether Giacomel will make it to the World Cup in Ruhpolding. “I would love to be there,” said the 25-year-old, who has been friends with Bakken since 2017.
The first meeting with the Norwegians on Monday in the dressing room at the Oberhofer Stadium was terrible. “I immediately started crying. He should be here and he’s not,” Giacomel said. His focus during training on Tuesday was almost zero.
Despite his deep sadness, he started. “I will do my best to make him proud. And that’s what Sivert would have wanted. I wouldn’t be here if I wasn’t ready to start,” said the Italian. He would dedicate a possible Olympic victory at the Winter Games in Antholz in February to his friend, who also had a good chance of being nominated.
Giacomel has not yet received psychological support. He seeks help from his girlfriend, who also lost a close friend last year. “2025 was difficult for us as a couple. We strengthen each other,” said Giacomel, visibly moved.
pk/dpa
