The Legacy of Tarjei and Johannes Thingnes Boe as two greats of biathlon step away from the sport

BMW IBU World Cup

08 Apr 2025

The Legacy of Tarjei and Johannes

Tarjei and Johannes Thingnes Boe walked away from biathlon last month, leaving an almost 20-year unmatched legacy. These two great athletes ironically both started their international careers as IBU Youth World Champions (in different years) and closed out their careers on March 23.

The brothers from Stryn leave behind a legacy of winning, remarkable talent, and personalities that endeared them to fans and rivals. The brother’s influence on biathlon is on par with that of their legendary, former teammate Ole Einar Bjoerndalen.

"Might not be possible to do again"

Two years after Tarjei won two IBU JWCH Bronze medals, he lifted the World Cup Total Score Crystal Globe above his head for the first and only time. JT took a bit longer for his first big globe, battling against seven-time winner Martin Fourcade until the first of his five titles in 2019.

When Tarjei won in 2011, he commented prophetically, “Maybe this will be the best season in my career. I am only 22-years-old. If I continue for 10 or 15 years, it might not be possible to do this again.” Later adding, “I have a brother that can already do things I could never do at his age (17) and is so much more talented than me.”

Over the years, Tarjei’s illnesses and injuries kept his podium appearances (149 in 365 starts) lower than his talent deserved. At the same time, JT racked up the second most individual victories ever (91) as part of an outstanding 221 in 408 starts. Keep in mind Bjoerndalen’s 257 in 580 starts with limited mixed relay opportunities while Fourcade had 186 in 347. 370 podiums to one family is a likely a never-to-be-repeated feat!

“That is natural talent”

Tarjei opened the fast-shooting generation, deadly accurate in prone, frequently blasting through standing while picking up a few penalties. JT jumped to another level. While Fourcade perfected the slow shooting/make-it-up-on-the-tracks style, JT blew away standing targets in a flash and skied fast all the time.

Coach Siegfried Mazet summed up his range talent. “In terms of natural skills, no question it is for sure Johannes Thingnes Boe. At one point in his career, Johannes did not train with the rifle for several months and apologized to me for not shooting. Yet that first day in camp, you could not tell that he had not been shooting. He was so good; that is natural talent.”

Ski speed, wire-to-wire wins

On the tracks, JT leaves an unmatched legacy as the guy who put down the hammer from the start, never looking back, with many wire-to-wire victories. At Hochfilzen in his undefeated-in-Sprints 2022/23 season, he flew out of the starting blocks, shooting clean, never leaving the top spot. Same story in the next day’s Pursuit, starting with a 43-second lead, he again went unchallenged despite two penalties, winning by 47 seconds. The combination of consistency, devastating ski speed, wire-to wire wins, weekend doubles and World Cup hat tricks is unparalleled.

“In football, he would be on the bench”

Perhaps the duo’s biggest legacy is their big, outgoing personalities. Many of their predecessors were “all business” except for maybe Bjorn Ferry, until the “Class of 88” that included Tarjei, Fourcade, and Simon Schempp arrived. Suddenly, there were always post-competition quips and fun. Every Boedium or a Boe press conference was filled with light moments, typical brotherly teasing while never giving Fourcade or teammates a break. The brothers finished 1-2 in the Oslo Pursuit the day JT secured his first big Crystal Globe.

The new champion constantly reiterated that Tarjei was behind his biathlon career. As the first brothers to win the Total Score JT admitted, “To do the same as my role model Tarjei is very good.” Tarjei retorted slyly, “Now, I regret it!” Adding, “He was a very good football player but our parents think it is a silly sport and said he would be better at biathlon…I think he is happy with the decision…And in football, he would be on the bench!”

Bottom line, Tarjei and Johannes’ outsized influence will remain for many years. They were fun, skilled and outsized winners. In 2011, Tarjei realised what would key their successful careers. “The easiest way to win the Yellow Jersey is to win races. That is all I have to do!”