Johannes Thingnes Bø (born 16 May 1993) is a Norwegian former biathlete who has achieved significant success in the sport. Thingnes Bø has won the Biathlon World Cup five times, in the 2018/19, 2019/20, 2020/21, 2022/23, and 2023/24 seasons. He is the male biathlete with the second most individual World Cup victories in history, totaling 91, including victories at the Winter Olympic Games.
Career
Early career (2009–2019) In 2009, Johannes Thingnes Bø competed in the sprint at the Hovedlandsrennet in Beitostølen, securing a medal in the relay alongside Jarle Midthjell Gjørven, Runar Netland, and Johan Eirik Meland. Later that year, he won two gold medals at the Norwegian National Championships in roller ski shooting in Vik i Sogn, in the Men's 17 category, in both the sprint and pursuit events.
Thingnes Bø's international success began in 2010 and 2011, earning several medals. In 2012, he became a three-time junior world champion and joined the Norwegian senior national team.
Breakthrough and dominance: 2018/19 season Johannes Thingnes Bø emerged as a dominant force in the 2018/19 World Cup season. Overcoming a pre-season back injury, Thingnes Bø won six of the first eight individual races and led the World Cup standings by 116 points before Christmas. He continued his exceptional form into the new year, securing podium finishes in every race until the events in Soldier Hollow.
During the 2019 Biathlon World Championships in Östersund, Thingnes Bø won the sprint and three team-event gold medals, adding to his World Cup dominance. He set a record for most individual victories in a single World Cup season, with 16 wins, surpassing Martin Fourcade's record of 14.Men's World Cup Total ScoreMen's World Cup Total Score
2019/20 season: Parental leave and continued success Despite taking parental leave in January 2020, Thingnes Bø maintained his dominance and won the World Cup title for a second consecutive year. His season highlights included victories in Hochfilzen, Le Grand-Bornand, and Nové Město, as well as a strong performance at the World Championships in Antholz-Anterselva, where he won six medals, including individual gold in the mass start.Men's World Cup Total Score
The 2019/20 season concluded amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, with events in Kontiolahti held without spectators and others canceled. Thingnes Bø secured the overall World Cup title in a dramatic final race, edging out retiring rival Martin Fourcade by two points.
Later career and achievements Thingnes Bø continued to excel in subsequent seasons, cementing his status as one of the sport's all-time greats. His achievements include multiple World Cup titles, Olympic medals, and recognition with the Holmenkollen Medal in 2021 for his contributions to the sport.
In March 2025, Johannes Thingnes Bø and his brother Tarjei Bø retired from competitions.
Awards and honors
Holmenkollen Medal (2021)
Biathlon results All results are sourced from the International Biathlon Union.
Olympic Games 9 medals (5 gold, 2 silver, 2 bronze) EventIndividualSprintPursuitRelay 2014 Sochi 11th 54th 32nd 8th Bronze — 2018 Pyeongchang Gold 31st 21st 16th Silver Silver 2022 Beijing Bronze Gold 5th Gold Gold Gold
*The mixed relay was added as an event in 2014.
World Championships
43 medals (23 gold, 14 silver, 6 bronze) EventIndividualSprintPursuitRelay 2015 Kontiolahti 7th Gold 31st 6th Silver Bronze rowspan="3" 2016 Oslo Holmenkollen4th4th4th Gold Gold Bronze 2017 Hochfilzen 8th Silver Silver Silver 8th 8th 2019 Östersund 9th Gold Silver 13th Gold Gold Gold 2020 Antholz-Anterselva Silver 5th Silver Gold Silver Gold Gold 2021 Pokljuka 5th 5th Bronze 8th Gold Gold Silver 2023 Oberhof Gold Gold Gold Bronze Silver Gold Gold 2024 Nové Město Gold Silver Gold Gold Silver Silver Bronze 2025 Lenzerheide 20th Gold Gold Bronze Gold 4th Silver
*During Olympic seasons competitions are only held for those events not included in the Olympic program. **The single mixed relay was added as an event in 2019.
Event Non-Team Team Total Σ Σ ΣOlympic Games 3 0 1 4 2 2 1 5 5 2 2 9World Championships 12 7 3 22 11 7 3 21 23 14 6 43 Total 15 7 4 26 13 9 4 26 28 16 8 52
World Cup Season standings SeasonAgeOverallIndividualSprintPursuit 2012–13 19 59 — 61 49 — 2013–14 20 3 12 3 5 10 2014–1521 5 5 5 15 9 2015–1622 2 5 3 3 4 2016–1723 3 4 5 4 6 2017–1824 2 1 2 2 2 2018–1925 1 1 1 1 1 2019–2026 1 2 3 4 1 2020–2127 1 2 1 2 2 2021–22 28 13 4 20 22 22 2022–23 29 1 7 1 1 2 2023–24 30 1 1 2 1 1 2024–25 31 2 7 1 2 6 Standings through 23 March 2025
Individual podiums 91 victories – (40 Sp, 27 Pu, 16 MS, 6 Ind, 2 Short Ind) 143 podiums