Remembering a Kind Soul: Ole Einar Björndalen Reflects on the Legacy of Sivert Bakken

Eight-time Olympic champion in biathlon, Norwegian **[Ole Einar Bjørndalen](https://www.vg.no)**, responded to the tragic passing of 27-year-old Norwegian biathlete and three-time European champion, **Sivert Guttorm Bakken**, who was also a World Cup stage winner.

«He was the most patient person in the world. He started training again, gradually working his way back to the top. And then this news comes… It’s incredibly tragic… I don’t usually say this about people, but he truly seemed like a ‘whole person.’ He was remarkably honest, curious, hard-working, always positive, and full of life. It felt like there was nothing bad about him. Though I didn’t know him for long, he would call me, we would chat, meet at ski races, and ski together a few times. This is a significant loss for the biathlon community,» Bjørndalen expressed, as reported by VG.