Johan-Olav Smørdal Botn (born 18 June 1999) is a Norwegian biathlete from the village Stårheim, in Stad Municipality. He made his Biathlon World Cup debut in 2024. He won gold in the men’s 20km individual biathlon at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Career Botn made his international debut relatively late in November 2021, securing the 32nd position in the IBU Cup sprint in Idre. Following another appearance in January, he was subsequently excluded from the squad. During the winter of 2022–23, the Norwegian participated in the initial races in early December, achieving his first top-10 result with an 8th place in the individual competition. Due to Erlend Bjøntegaard's decision to waive his starting rights, Botn received the reserve starting position for the season finale in Canmore and secured podium finishes in both sprint races. His standout performance, however, occurred in the final race of the season, the pursuit competition, where he claimed his first IBU Cup victory with a lead of over a minute over Vebjørn Sørum. At the Norwegian Championships, Botn, alongside Håvard Bogetveit, Simon Kirkeeide, and Johannes Thingnes Bø, won the bronze medal in the relay event for Sogn og Fjordane. For the 2023–24 season, he was selected for the B-national team for the first time. At the 2024 European Biathlon Championship, he won one gold and two silver medals.
On 10 February 2026, Botn won the gold medal for men’s 20km individual biathlon at the 2026 Winter Olympics, finishing with a time of 51:31.5. On February 17, he won a silver medal in the relay, together with Martin Uldal, Sturla Holm Lægreid, and Vetle Sjåstad Christiansen.
Personal life Botn attended Eid High School in Nordfjordeid.
Botn is in a relationship with cross-country skier Karoline Simpson-Larsen. He is the son of Olav Botn and Brit Mari Smørdal Botn and has a brother called Jørn Smørdal Botn
Biathlon results All results are sourced from the International Biathlon Union.
Olympic Games 2 medals (1 gold, 1 silver) EventIndividualSprintPursuitRelay 2026 Milano Cortina Gold 8 10 8 Silver —
World Cup Season Age Overall Individual Sprint Pursuit Mass start Races Points Position Points Position Points Position Points Position Points Position2023–24 24 7/25 231 29th – – 210 21st 84 25th 27 31st2025–26 26 17/21 968 3rd 141 2nd 290 6th 301 6th 236 2nd
Individual podiums 5 victories – (2 Ind, 1 Sp, 1 Pu, 1 MS) 8 podiums No. Season Date Location Discipline Level Place1 2023–24 9 March 2024 Soldier Hollow 10 km Sprint World Cup 3rd2 2025–26 3 December 2025 Östersund 20 km Individual World Cup 1st3 6 December 2025 Östersund 10 km Sprint World Cup 1st47 December 2025 Östersund 12.5 km Pursuit World Cup 3rd513 December 2025 Hochfilzen 12.5 km Pursuit World Cup 3rd6 20 December 2025 Annecy–Le Grand-Bornand 12.5 km Pursuit World Cup 1st7 10 February 2026 Antholz-Anterselva 20 km Individual Olympic Games 1st8 22 March 2026 Oslo 15 km Mass Start World Cup 1st
Team podiums 2 victories – (2 Relay) 4 podiums No. Season Date Location Discipline Level Place Teammates 1 2025–26 30 November 2025 Östersund Mixed Relay World Cup 3rd Strømsheim, Botn, Knotten, Tandrevold 2 14 December 2025 Hochfilzen Relay World Cup 1st Dale-Skjevdal, Botn, Lægreid, Christiansen 3 17 February 2026 Antholz-Anterselva Relay Olympic Games 2nd Uldal, Botn, Lægreid, Christiansen 4 7 March 2026 Lahti Relay World Cup 1st Dale-Skjevdal, Botn, Lægreid, Christiansen
IBU Cup Season Age Overall Individual Super Sprint Sprint Pursuit Mass start Races Points Position Points Position Points Position Points Position Points Position Points Position2021–22 22 3/22 11 143rd 2 79th – – 9 131st – – – –2022–23 23 7/22 355 14th 34 26th 28 19th 163 17th 90 13rd 40 13rd2023–24 24 15/23 1135 2nd 165 4th n/h n/h 660 1st 210 4th 100 6th2024–25 25 18/24 1144 3rd 180 3rd n/h n/h 468 4th 281 3rd 215 1st
Individual podiums 11 victories – (1 Ind, 5 Sp, 4 Pu, 1 MS) 26 podiums No. Season Date Location Level Race Place12022–23 25 February 2023 Canmore IBU Cup Sprint 3rd21 March 2023 Canmore IBU Cup Sprint 2nd33 March 2023 Canmore IBU Cup Pursuit 1st42023–24 30 November 2023 Kontiolahti IBU Cup Individual 1st52 December 2023 Kontiolahti IBU Cup Sprint 1st68 December 2023 Idre Fjäll IBU Cup Sprint 1st79 December 2023 Idre Fjäll IBU Cup Sprint 2nd810 December 2023 Idre Fjäll IBU Cup Pursuit 1st913 December 2023 Sjusjøen IBU Cup Sprint 2nd1015 December 2023 Sjusjøen IBU Cup Pursuit 1st1116 December 2023 Sjusjøen IBU Cup Mass Start 60 3rd1210 January 2024 Ridnaun-Val Ridanna IBU Cup Sprint 1st1324 January 2024 Brezno-Osrblie European Championships Individual 2nd1426 January 2024 Brezno-Osrblie European Championships Sprint 2nd151 February 2024 Arber IBU Cup Sprint 2nd163 February 2024 Arber IBU Cup Sprint 1st172024–25 30 November 2024 Idre Fjäll IBU Cup Sprint 2nd181 December 2024 Idre Fjäll IBU Cup Pursuit 2nd194 December 2024 Geilo IBU Cup Individual 2nd206 December 2024 Geilo IBU Cup Sprint 2nd217 December 2024 Geilo IBU Cup Pursuit 2nd2219 December 2024 Obertilliach IBU Cup Sprint 2nd2321 December 2024 Obertilliach IBU Cup Mass Start 60 1st248 March 2025 Otepää IBU Cup Pursuit 1st259 March 2025 Otepää IBU Cup Mass Start 60 2nd2614 March 2025 Otepää IBU Cup Sprint 1st
References
External links
Johan-Olav Botn at Milano Cortina 2026