Johannes Thingnes Bø is exhausted. © ANSA / MARTIN DIVISEK

Bø on farewell tour: “I’m completely exhausted”

Record world champion Johannes Thingnes Bø is risking his health a little in the final days of his biathlon career for one last great triumph.

March 14, 2025

From: dpa

"Of course, I'll be competing this weekend," said the Norwegian superstar, despite having been complaining of a cold and fever for days. "Normally, I would stay in bed; I really don't feel well," Bö said after his tenth-place finish in the short individual event on Thursday in Slovenia, adding to the TV channel NRK: "I'm completely exhausted."

Why is he struggling so much? Bø wants to win the overall World Cup for the sixth time and retire with the big crystal globe at his home race next weekend at Holmenkollen. "There aren't that many chances left," said Bø, who has fallen back to second place and needs to overtake his compatriot Sturla Holm Laegreid.

Thousands of fans want to say goodbye to Bø at Holmenkollen

The 28-year-old Laegreid is only 39 points ahead of five-time Olympic champion Bö before the final four individual competitions. "I have to make sure I get healthy again, otherwise I have no chance at all," said the 23-time world champion Bø before the mass start on Saturday (15.45:XNUMX p.m.) on the Slovenian plateau of Pokljuka.

Johannes Thingnes Bø feels ill. © APA/afp / JURE MAKOVEC

The biathlon season finale in Oslo begins next Friday. Tens of thousands of fans in Norway are expected to be there when Johannes Thingnes Bø and his older brother Tarjei Bø compete for the last time before their retirement. The younger of the Bö brothers is unexpectedly retiring one year before the Winter Olympics in Italy and plans to devote his time primarily to his family with two young children.