Norwegian biathlete Sivert Guttorm Bakken, who had been hoping to feature at the Winter Olympics next February, has died aged 27.

Axar.az informs, citing Independent, the sport’s governing body, the International Biathlon Union (IBU), said it was “lost for words” as it announced the news on Tuesday.

Bakken, who took a break from the sport in 2022 after being diagnosed with the heart condition myocarditis, returned in 2024 and was in contention for a place in the national squad for the Milan-Cortina Games.

The IBU said he passed away on a training camp in Italy, with Norwegian outlet NRK reporting he was found dead in his hotel room in Lavaze.

Bakken had four wins from 31 appearances at World Cup level and won the overall mass start title in the 2021-22 season, sealing the small crystal globe in front of a home crowd at Holmenkollen, Oslo.

He was also the reigning European champion in the 10km sprint discipline and in the men’s relay.