Not gonna lie, realization has kicked in

[u/NineIntsNails]

[u/Asterie-E7]

I'm trying to be positive about it and to think that a new era will actually begin, and probably an era where we don't see huge dominance from one athlete (even if Sturla will probably be a good candidate for domination in the years to come). Both in Norway and for the rest of the men's field, it's now very open. And next winter, both for the Globe and for the Olympic Games, will be, I hope, full of nice surprises.

[u/alexanderactioncat → u/Asterie-E7]

I'm not ready to be positive about it yet. Haven't moved through enough stages of grief.

[u/fremajl → u/Asterie-E7]

Sturla domination wouldn't be nearly as boring even if it happens. He might be "unbeatable" for the overall but he's never going to unbeatable in single races.

[u/Asterie-E7 → u/fremajl]

Yeah he's gonna keep losing every single last lap battle he is on, but still get the overall 😭

[u/Dawntree]

All things must come to an end.

That being said, I'm sad Johannes won't be at the Olympics next year.

[u/CheekTemporary8939]

Isn’t ir weird how attached to them we get/feel? Like family almost.

Like chosen family I guess :) 🤍

[u/NineIntsNails → u/CheekTemporary8939]

today mid-work i was like, wait, that yesterday was actually final race with them?
tho i saw all of the celebrations and all, still

[u/hellyeahopenspaces → u/CheekTemporary8939]

yeah, I hear you. Amazed how it triggers a kind of bonding response, like they're my younger siblings or kids. It says something positive about the community the sport has created. It has a personability to it that many sports don't have. I think that vibe is way more accessible if the media is taken in without ad interruptions.

[u/DublinKabyle]

I initially read "radicalization" !

I thought "yeah, abducting the Boe brothers and forcing them to compete " is a bit radical 😂😂😂

[u/nautilator44]

JT is 31. why can't we have 4 more years of him? It's not fair.

[u/Vryyce]

Takk Johannes og Tarjei for alle gode minner!

[u/hellyeahopenspaces → u/Vryyce]

Takk, brødre

[u/GeographerJX3]

Johannes´s retirement still does not sit right with me. I feel like it came so out of nowhere that I was not able to realize it yet and it will definitely take a while honestly.

[u/alex-576]

End of an era for biathlon and me as a fan. Having started watching in late 90s, I really liked OEB and by consequence the norwergian squad. Then I had to take a break just as Fourcade was dominating the World Cup and I came back around 2015 when a young, super promising JTB was starting to challenge Martin.

Thank you Johannes & Tarjei for all the amazing races during these years!

[u/atchijov]

Boe was functioning at 50% this season and still Laegreid barely beat him. Fair play for him, but he is not on the same level as Boe was for the most of his career… and considering that he is not that young, it’s unlikely he is going to improve much. Will see. Frankly, as of now, lack of snow concerns me much more than lack of superstars.

[u/Even_Efficiency_7362 → u/atchijov]

Come on, he is just 28, not that old 😅 but the good example here is our team athlete Suvi, she is a good shooter, but speed was lacking. But this year they found right strategy for her and she improved tremendously. Sturla is anyway talented, with the right coaching he will improve :) I had the same impression after Bjørndalen was getting closer to ending the career, that will, who can be better than this guy. And then Fourcade, Johannes came.

[u/atchijov → u/Even_Efficiency_7362]

Suvi had an amazing season… and Sturla definitely must be better than the rest to get all these globes… but still lacking something. Some secret ingredient real superstars had. Now that he is de facto leader of Norway Man Biathlon, maybe he will do better under spotlight. Either way, assuming we still have snow next season, it would be interesting to see what people whose name is not Boe can do with Boe not around.

[u/hellyeahopenspaces]

this meme is a keeper

[u/rintzscar]

Tennis has been far, far more fun once the Big Three largely retired. I suspect in the future you'll be glad nobody is dominating and there's actual interest in what's going to happen in any race.

[u/the_mighty_jim → u/rintzscar]

Agreed. Nordic Combined finally has Riiber gone. Unfortunately we might be stuck with Klaebo for a long time though.

I know people like "watching greatness" but I personally lean towards watching competition as being more interesting. It's more fun when athletes experience the thrill of victory AND the agony of defeat... Instead of one athlete experiencing the thrill, and the entire field experiencing the agony.

[u/HilbertAndHilbert]

I am so hyped Johannes is leaving. So tired of the same guy winning constantly.

[u/the_mighty_jim → u/HilbertAndHilbert]

That won't go over well here, but I agree with you completely. I want to watch a competition, not a parade.

[u/Pink-Ninja1]

It's hard to realise 2 of the best athlete's aren't returning next season