Overview
- Sivert Guttorm Bakken, 27, was discovered dead on December 23 in Lavazè, Italy, where police seized items from his room and opened a formal inquiry.
- An autopsy was conducted over the Christmas period, and the family's lawyers say a preliminary forensic report is expected early this week.
- First responders found Bakken wearing an altitude‑simulation mask, and Norwegian outlet VG reported it may have been set to around 7000 meters, a detail not confirmed by investigators.
- Scenarios under review include a device malfunction or a setting change during rescue efforts, while Norway’s Olympiatoppen has advised athletes to pause use of simulated‑altitude devices for now.
- A minute of silence was held at the Biathlon World Team Challenge in Gelsenkirchen, where Juni Arnekleiv competed with Mats Øverby and placed third as colleagues and commentators expressed their shock.