Overview
- The 27-year-old Norwegian was discovered dead this week in his hotel room at Passo di Lavazè in Trentino, where he was training.
- Investigators confirm he was wearing a commercially sold elevation training mask that restricts airflow to simulate altitude.
- Italian authorities are leading the case, and an autopsy will be conducted in Italy in the coming days to determine the cause.
- The Norwegian Biathlon Federation says it does not know how the mask was obtained or used, and his family is in contact with local police.
- Bakken had a pericarditis diagnosis in 2023, and researchers note such masks can raise heart rate during recovery, though overall performance benefits appear modest and no causal link has been established.