Biathlon Dominator Announces Retirement Date!

Biathlon-Legend: The End is Near

Biathlon superstar Johannes Thingnes Bö has revealed when he will retire from the sport. Until then, the Norwegian aims to set a special record.

Johannes Thingnes Bö won the overall World Cup in Biathlon 2023/24.

It’s official! Biathlon superstar Johannes Thingnes Bö has set a date for his definitive retirement from competitive skiing.

According to Bö, he plans to hang up his skis after the Winter Olympics in 2026 in Milan-Cortina. The 31-year-old confirmed this in the podcast “Extrarunde,” stating, "I will not continue behind that. Regardless of whether I have five, six, or seven more World Cup titles or rise to 85, 90, or 100 victories, that date is set. I need to achieve everything possible by then."

With 20 gold medals at the World Championships, he shares the record with Ole Einar Björndalen. In the last World Cup season, Bö also captured the overall title with great dominance.

Recently, Bö hinted on Instagram that he likely would not participate in the home World Championships in 2029 held at Holmenkollen, expressing his desire to dedicate more time to his family, especially as his son is about to start school. He remarked, "Biathlon demands so much energy from me, my family, and especially my wife."

Goals Set Before Retirement

Before the legendary biathlete puts down his rifle for good, he aims to surpass a few more of Björndalen's records. With one more championship title, he would become the sole record holder, overtaking the biathlon icon.

Additionally, he aspires to break Björndalen's record for the most individual World Cup victories, which stands at 95. Currently, Bö has achieved the top podium finish 85 times in his career, leaving him with eleven more victories to cement his status as the most successful biathlete in history.

Unlike in the past, he can rely on a new sense of relaxation, stating that since finalizing his retirement plans, he feels “much more relaxed” and can “enjoy the competitions differently.” Travel, he noted, has become less stressful and more enjoyable.

Tarjei Bö Continues Competing

In April, Bö's older brother Tarjei expressed his plans to continue competing for at least one more season, indicating that the Boh family’s ski legacy continues strong.