He finished last season with a victory at the joint start in Holmenkollen. Since then, Sivert Bakken has not been seen in the biathlon circus – until he suddenly appeared in Ruhpolding during the relay on Friday. – I would prefer to be in the other, water role, of course. But I think it is good to that extent, to be present and watch, he admits to news. The ground was captured by the TV camera when Johannes Thingnes Bø celebrated the victory outside on the last lap. And it was obvious that Norway’s anchorman gave a message. – I told him that “now it will be a bonus”. Then he grinned well and was satisfied, the ironing reveals. This is because the prize money from the relay cup is distributed among the teams, including those who do not go. IN PLACE: Sivert Bakken has been given a role in the support apparatus during the race in Ruhpolding. Photo: Hanne Skjellum / news – It’s fun to still be part of the team. Of course, says Bakken. Sick after corona vaccine The 24-year-old from Lillehammer impressed many last season, and was rewarded with a place in the national team this spring. But not long after, he discovered that his body was not functioning as normal. After thorough examinations, it became clear that Bakken had developed an inflammation of the heart, which is apparently a rare side effect from the corona vaccine. Among other things, TV 2 has previously mentioned. As a result, he has not been able to train hard since May, and he still does not notice any progress. – It is a simple treatment, it is time. That’s the only thing we do. I don’t have any good predictions on how long it will take. It has already passed the time we thought it would take. I don’t have a good answer to either how long it will take, or whether there is anything I can do to make it better, he explains. DOUBLE NORWEGIAN: Sivert Bakken won the joint start in Holmenkollen on 20 March 2022 ahead of Sturla Holm Lægreid. Since then, he has not skied. Photo: Terje Bendiksby / NTB Bakken admits that it has been some difficult months, and has given up on a comeback this season. – It is clear that it takes a bit of a toll on the head that this is taking so long. It’s the worst situation, I feel. I am very grateful for the season I had last year. And of course to get a place on the team. It does something to the motivation, says the biathlete. Problem with the heart Former World Cup manager Thingnes Bø understands the frustration. – It’s really boring to have a status where you can neither go forward nor go backwards. The values he measures are not good enough to be allowed to train and then he just has to wait, says Johannes Thingnes Bø. Bakken has also previously had problems with his heart, more specifically heart fibrillation. After an intervention at Christmas two years ago, the real progress as a biathlete also came. But these two problems should not have any connection. FEKK KULE: Sivert Bakken with the trophy for winning the joint start cup overall last season. Photo: Terje Bendiksby / NTB – No, and I’m very happy about that, of course. At the start of this, I had a lot of investigations done and it is good, to that extent, to be able to confirm that things are in order there. But it’s boring that I’ll get round two with my heart then. That there is something or other there, he explains. But Bakken is determined to come back – even if it is “next year or later”: – What the boys do on the relay is absolutely disgusting. It motivates me.
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Shouted to his ill-fated teammate in the middle of the race: – Then he grinned
