It’s been 32 months since his last competition. He’s gone two years without training and has barely done a hard workout. Yet, this weekend, Sivert Bakken out-sprinted Johannes Thingnes Bø during his comeback at the season premiere in Sjusjøen.

After over two years on the sidelines, the 26-year-old from Norway delivered a scorching comeback at the Norwegian season premiere in Sjusjøen this weekend. 

In Saturday’s sprint, Sivert Bakken secured an impressive 13th place, ahead of several former Norwegian national teammates and a host of World Cup stars, just 50 seconds behind the winner, Vetle Sjåstad Christiansen. 

Also Read – Sjusjøen sprint: Christiansen and Tandrevold lead the way

In Sunday’s mass start, he out-sprinted biathlon star Johannes Thingnes Bø, beat Norwegian national team veteran Johannes Dale-Skjevdal, as well as international World Cup stars like France’s Fabien Claude and Italy’s Lukas Hofer, finishing an incredible 16th place. 

Bakken was just seconds away from a top-10 finish on both days of the season premiere despite being unable to compete or train intensively for two and a half years. 

Read More – From Tandrevold to Strømsheim: Sjusjøen mass start delivers fireworks

The story continues below.

From Heaven to Hell 

The rising star from Vingrom, in Norway, burst onto the World Cup scene like a tornado at the start of the 2022 Olympic season. Bakken claimed four World Cup victories and won the mass start World Cup overall in his first season at the top level, with predictions of a bright future. 

But then, everything went quiet. 

A few weeks after the season ended, Bakken developed myocarditis after a COVID-19 vaccine. He had to abruptly stop all physical training and put his career on hold, later losing his spot on the Norwegian national team. 

It wasn’t until this winter that he cautiously resumed physical training. This weekend’s season opener marked Bakken’s first race since the World Cup finale in Holmenkollen in March 2022. 

Just a Dress Rehearsal 

The races at the season opener in Sjusjøen were intended as a fitness test. 

When ProXCskiing.com’s sister site Langrenn.com spoke to Bakken before the Norwegian season premiere, he shared his long journey back, his long-term plans, and the real comeback he’s aiming for. 

Do you have any dialogue with the national team now? 

“Not much, other than knowing the people, so I talk to the athletes and coaches occasionally. Sometimes I chat with Egil (Kristiansen) to give a status update.” 

Aiming for the Olympics, Ideally in 2026 

The last time Bakken participated in the Norwegian national season premiere at Sjusjøen was in 2021. Back then, he immediately earned a spot on the World Cup team and stayed there for the rest of the season. This year, his ambitions are entirely different—for now. 

The 26-year-old from Vingrom has set the bar sky-high for his comeback project: he wants to return to where he left off in March 2022—on top of the podium at the highest level. 

“Right now, the goal is to become as good as possible in the long term. That’s the context for this year’s opening races: I’m essentially sacrificing good form now to become much better later,” explains Bakken to Langrenn.com. 

What is ‘later’? 

“It ranges from the 2026 Olympics in Anterselva to the World Championships at home in 2029 and the 2030 Olympics.” 

Also Read – From setback to comeback: Bakken’s path back to biathlon success

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