What was the last Biathlon World Cup without the Bø brothers?


With the conclusion of the 2025 biathlon season, an entire era in the sport will come to an end. Two of the most iconic biathletes in history, Johannes and Tarjei Bø, will race for the final time in their illustrious careers. Their presence has become so ingrained in biathlon that it’s easy to forget what the sport was like before they arrived. The Dailysports team takes a look back at the last World Cup season before the Bø brothers made their debut.
The rise of Tarjei
The journey to biathlon greatness for the Bø brothers began with Tarjei, the elder sibling. He debuted in the World Cup on March 26, 2009, during a sprint in Khanty-Mansiysk. However, his first race wasn’t a success, with six missed targets across two shooting bouts, finishing nearly three minutes behind race winner Arnd Peiffer of Germany.
That was Tarjei’s only World Cup race of the 2008/2009 season, as he primarily competed in the IBU Junior Cup. The following season, his potential earned him a place in the IBU Cup, and from December 20, 2009, when he competed in an individual race in Pokljuka, Tarjei became a regular member of the Norwegian national team.
Johannes creates competition for his brother
Five years younger than Tarjei, Johannes established himself in the Norwegian team earlier, debuting in the World Cup at age 20. His first race was a 4x7.5 km relay on January 20, 2013, in Antholz. Interestingly, this was the same venue where, 12 years later, Tarjei announced his retirement.
After his debut, Johannes competed in four more races in the IBU Junior Cup in Obertilliach, Austria, before fully transitioning to the senior Norwegian team.
Bjørndalen's dominance in the last World Cup without the Bø brothers
The last World Cup season without the Bø brothers was 2007/2008, a golden era for their compatriot Ole Einar Bjørndalen. At the time, Bjørndalen was at the height of his powers, winning seven individual races and making the podium 15 times. The Norwegian team, led by Bjørndalen, also secured victories in three of five relays that season.
However, in the mixed relay at the World Championships in Pyeongchang, Norway only managed fourth place, finishing behind France, Sweden, and Germany.
By the end of the season, Bjørndalen not only led in individual wins but also claimed the overall title, securing the Big Crystal Globe by 210 points over Poland’s Tomasz Sikora. This season marked the sixth and final time Bjørndalen won the overall World Cup title.
Looking ahead
The biathlon world would later witness fierce competition between the Bø brothers and Martin Fourcade, followed by Johannes’ era of dominance. But with the recent performances of Quentin Fillon Maillet and Fabien Claude, questions arise: could a new era of French dominance be on the horizon? Or will Sturla Laegreid and Vebjørn Sørum uphold the legacy of Norwegian biathlon?
These questions will only be answered in the upcoming season. For now, fans can enjoy the swan song of biathlon legends, with 12 races remaining to celebrate the careers of the iconic Bø brothers.














