Johan-Olav Smørdal Botn (born 18 June 1999) is a Norwegian biathlete from the village StÃÂ¥rheim, in Stad Municipality. He made his Biathlon World Cup debut in 2024. He won gold in the menâÂÂs 20km individual biathlon at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
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 2022âÂÂ23, 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 HÃÂ¥vard Bogetveit, Simon Kirkeeide, and Johannes Thingnes Bø, won the bronze medal in the relay event for Sogn og Fjordane. For the 2023âÂÂ24 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 menâÂÂs 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 SjÃÂ¥stad Christiansen.
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 Both
All results are sourced from the International Biathlon Union.
2 medals (1 gold, 1 silver)