“Enough is enough”: A lonely biathlete quits

If you're a good biathlete, you'll have a good life in Norway. There is hardly any other country in the world where this sport is as popular as it is there. Fame, honor and prestige are certain for a world-class athlete, as are profitable sponsorship contracts that ski hunters from other nations can only dream of. But being a biathlete in Norway can also have its downsides. Especially if you are not one of the absolute crème de la crème. Athletes who would be the driving force of a team in many other nations often don't get a place in the squad - because the performance density is simply so enormous. Håvard Gutubø Bogetveit knows all too well what that feels like. The 29-year-old from Oslo certainly has potential as a biathlete. He has qualities especially on the cross-country ski trails, but a little less so on the shooting range. He first showed off his skills at the Junior World Championships in 2013, when he won the bronze medal in the relay alongside Johannes Thingnes Bø and Tarjei Bø. While his two colleagues are now true superstars of the scene, Bogetveit's career has been a little different: he has been trying to fight for a place in the national team for ten years. But he never succeeded. The “world’s best external national team” With the help of private sponsors and driven by his irrepressible will, Bogetveit tried to attract attention with good results in the lower-class biathlon competitions. He managed that too. In the IBU Cup, the most important racing series behind the World Cup, he has always been among the top 10 overall for the past five years, and this year he even finished the winter in second place. It was the best season of his career, but once again there was no place for him in the national team. That's why Bogetveit has now decided to end his career. “It’s time to put your skis and guns on the shelf,” the 29-year-old wrote to his fans. “Even though I had my best season and delivered my best performances ever, I decided enough was enough. “I didn’t become the world’s best biathlete, but I dare say I was the world’s best external national team,” said the four-time bronze medalist at the European Championships. Finally, Bogetveit writes the following: “I am proud that I achieved this, after all the challenges that came with it.”

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“Enough is enough”: A lonely biathlete quits

Competitive sport has its beautiful sides, but also its dark sides, as the example of a Norwegian biathlete proves.

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