Norwegian biathlete Johan-Olav Botn, who won gold in the men’s individual race at the 2026 Winter Olympics, dedicated his triumph to the memory of his close friend Sivert Bakken, who passed away in late December.

Speaking to reporters moments after crossing the finish line, Botn summed up his emotions with a brief but powerful message:

“Sivert, we did it,” the Norwegian said into the camera after his victory.

The death of Sivert Bakken at the end of December was a heavy blow for the Norwegian biathlon team, making Botn’s Olympic success all the more emotional.