Biathlon: Martin Fourcade with a Final Challenge: – He Knows What He Needs to Do

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Former rivals with a final challenge: – He knows what he must do

He battled against Johannes Thingnes Bø for many years. Now Martin Fourcade has traveled to Oslo to honor his old rival and issue him one last challenge.

RIVALS: Johannes Thingnes Bø and Martin Fourcade competed for numerous victories until the latter retired in 2020.

Photo: Berit Roald / NTB

Mathias Hagen – Journalist in Holmenkollen Journalist in Holmenkollen

We report from Holmenkollen

Published on March 22 at 21:12, updated yesterday at 10:56.

Both Johannes Thingnes Bø and Tarjei Bø are set to conclude their illustrious careers in Holmenkollen on Sunday.

But it isn’t just family and Norwegian fans who have come to witness the event.

Even the long-time rival Martin Fourcade has taken the trip to Holmenkollen.

He tells NRK that he scrambled to book flight tickets when Thingnes Bø shocked the sports community on January 18 by announcing he would retire after the season.

– I booked tickets in January when I saw the message on TV. I wanted to be there to celebrate my greatest rival but also to see his last race. It’s a beautiful celebration of the Bø brothers and of biathlon, he says.

SOUR DEFEAT AS A FOND MEMORY

Fourcade and Thingnes Bø have had countless duels, but one stands out in particular for the Frenchman: the normal distance in the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang.

– I was leading going into the last shooting and could have won with one miss, but I missed two. Johannes won. It was a great duel, and he pushed me to get better. In 2019, he pushed me so much that I ended up competing in too many races, the Frenchman recounts.

He believes the two were unique rivals.

– We had similar abilities. I had to be 100 percent all the time to beat him. He was more aggressive than I was and had enormous self-confidence.

Now Fourcade hopes that Thingnes Bø receives a worthy farewell.

– He could still have competed for a few more years, but he listened to his gut feeling. I respect that, Fourcade says.

ON SITE: Martin Fourcade will be present at Bø's farewell race.

CHALLENGING THINGNES BØ

Before Thingnes Bø can let go of strict health regulations and sometimes overwhelming competition schedules, he will compete in a mass start in front of a sold-out audience at Holmenkollen.

His former rival has a final challenge for the Stryn native.

– I won my last race, so he knows what he has to do to achieve that milestone too. But I would be the happiest man in the world if he manages to do it, Fourcade says.

Both brothers are determined to enjoy their last competitive weekend in their careers.

– The weekend we are entering now will be the most beautiful weekend of our careers. The reminiscing has already begun, and we feel that we are being welcomed warmly. We look forward to enjoying this together with the audience, Thingnes Bø says.

The elder brother shares this sentiment.

– We are fortunate to retire here at home in Holmenkollen. We have very high expectations for the weekend, and we look forward to embarking on the next chapter of our lives, says Tarjei Bø.

HONORING THE BØ BROTHERS

Johannes Dale-Skjevdal admits that it will be strange without the Bø brothers, but he's confident that the team will continue to perform well.

– You can’t say it won’t be different, because it will be. Suddenly, two major profiles are gone. But the standard will still remain high, and I believe it will be very good.

Vebjørn Sørum highlights their role as role models.

– They have taken over the legacy from Ole Einar (Bjørndalen) and Emil (Hegle Svendsen), and what people will remember is likely the positivity and energy they have contributed. It’s difficult to find superlatives for what they have meant for us.

See also: Dramatic Kollen build-up revealed: – A big shock

Next: Here he finally gets the gold hug – his girlfriend didn’t remember the last time.

NRK reports from Holmenkollen, and the excitement is building for a thrilling competition ending.