Norway biathlete Bakken wore elevation training maek when found dead

Norwegian biathlete Sivert Guttorm Bakken wore an elevation training mask when he was found dead in a hotel room in Italy, the Norwegian biathlon federation said on Wednesday.

The federation said "the circumstances surrounding the acquisition and use of this mask are currently unknown."

It said it would attempt to obtain further information on this matter in the coming days.

The statement said that the athlete's autopsy will be carried out in Italy over the next days, with Bakken's relatives in contact with local police.

"Police and forensics will clarify the course of events and the cause of death. As soon as we have further information, we will inform the media," the federation said.

Bakken was found dead in his hotel room in the Italian Alpine town of Lavazè, where he was for a training camp. He was 27.

Bakken was once regarded as one of Norway's brightest prospects. He made his World Cup debut in March 2022 and later that year won his first World Cup race. Shortly afterwards, however, his career was interrupted by a serious health setback when he was diagnosed with myocarditis, a heart condition.

He made his competitive return in the 2024–25 season in the IBU Cup and this season rejoined the World Cup squad, recording multiple top-10 results, including fifth in last week's sprint in Le Grand-Bornand, France.