Johannes Thingnes Bö takes almost two minutes in the biathlon individual from his competitors alone on the running track. The Norwegian dominates the World Championships at will and has won gold in all four races. Now he is asked if he would like to change sports. His reaction causes laughter.
Norway’s biathlon superstar Johannes Thingnes Bö is not planning a trip to cross-country skiers. “No, I’m not interested in that,” said the 29-year-old after his fourth gold at the World Championships in Oberhof. At the press conference, the exceptional talent, who was engrossed in his mobile phone, initially did not feel addressed when asked whether he would change camp for a race or two like his compatriot Ole Einar Björndalen. “Do you mean me?” asked the by far best runner in the field of ski hunters, causing laughter.
Norway’s icon Björndalen, who won 94 World Cups in biathlon and was just as dominant in skiing as Bö is now, also won a World Cup race in cross-country skiing in November 2013 and even interrupted his biathlon season for it. Compatriot Lars Berger also dared to make such detours and even won three World Cup gold medals in cross-country skiing.
Five-time Olympic champion Bö is in a league of his own this season. The now 16-time world champion would have won the individual race despite two penalties even if the competition had remained flawless. After 20 kilometers he was running 1:45 minutes ahead of the second fastest. “I never felt tired, my form is really crazy,” said the overall World Cup leader in view of the difficult conditions at almost eleven degrees Celsius.
“I wish I could go his pace,” said his compatriot Sturla Holm Lägreid, second in the individual: “But even if I only tried it for one lap, I would make countless mistakes.” Third-placed Sebastian Samuelsson was also “impressed”. “Unfortunately not that much” can be changed about the superiority during the winter, according to the Swede: “But in the new season we want to attack him and open a new chapter.”
Meanwhile, Bö still has the chance to be the first in his sport to win seven gold medals at a World Championship. So far he has been the first to win at least one title in all World Championship races. Bö has been unbeaten for nine races in a row (World Cup and World Championships), and he has already achieved 14 victories this season.
