Bø: "I’ll lie on the sofa and get fat"

Biathlon

Bø: “I’ll lie on the sofa and get fat”

by Ingeborg Scheve/Translated by Katerina Paul • 27.03.2025

Member Article

Photo: Authamayou/NordicFocus

On Sunday, it was over. Johannes Thingnes Bø and Tarjei Bø said their farewells after dominating the world stage for around 15 years. Now they reveal what they plan to do next in life.

Johannes Thingnes Bø wasn’t able to claim the big crystal globe in his final season, and it was a Swede who won the last World Cup race he competed in.

But the 31-year-old from Markane IL is satisfied.

“I’m proud of what I’ve achieved, and there’s nothing major I regret. I’ve enjoyed the journey and sacrificed minimally compared to what it takes to be the best in the world. It felt more special to announce my retirement back in January. Now, I only have positive feelings. There’s nothing I’ll miss when I step away. What we do is all-consuming, so it will feel good to take the next step.”

What’s Next?

“For the first week, we’re all just going to lie flat on the couch. But in a month, when the others are back to training and fully focused on the Olympics, we’ll still be on the couch. We’re going to gain weight—people won’t even recognize us in six months.”

A Bitter End?

World Cup winner Sturla Holm Lægreid kicked off the off-season celebrations even before changing out of his race suit after the final event—the mass start in Holmenkollen on Sunday, March 23—where Tarjei and Johannes Thingnes Bø made their last appearances.

But honestly, how disappointing is it to have missed out on the crystal globe in your final season?

“It’s frustrating. That was my main goal for the season, along with performing well at the World Championships. But everything has to align perfectly for that to happen, and it just didn’t. The World Championships went well, but I met my match in Sturla (Holm Lægreid). We have very similar strengths. His expertise has been in shooting, while mine has been in skiing. When we shoot equally well, I’ve often had the edge with my speed on the course.”

Tarjei Boe (NOR), Johannes Thingnes Boe (NOR) © Authamayou/NordicFocus.

The Evolution of Biathlon

How has biathlon changed during your career, and how have you influenced that evolution?

“What I did differently when I broke through was going hard from the start. I started racing aggressively on the first lap—no one had done that before. That’s how I won races. I often lost a bit towards the end, but by setting the pace early, I gained momentum that my competitors couldn’t recover from later in the race,” Thingnes Bø says with a smile.

“It took a few years before others followed suit, so I had a head start. But now, you see the younger athletes, the new generation—they’re doing exactly the same thing.”