- Is a professional biathlete.
- Coaches are Joar Himle, Mikael Løfgren and Egil Gjelland.
- Hobbies include bicycling, fishing and watching movies.
- Speaks English and German.
- His club is Trondhjems Skiskyttere.
- His biathlon equipment consists of: Munitions: Lapua, binding: Rottefella, shoes: Madshus, gloves: Odlo, poles: Swix, riffle: Anschütz, ski suit: Odlo and skis: Madshus.
- Lives in Lillehammer, Norway.
- Ex-boyfriend of Kaja Eckhoff.
- Boyfriend of television presenter Samantha Skogrand.
- Friend of teammate Tarjei Bø.
- Is very fond of teammate and mentor Ole Einar Bjørndalen.
- Starred in a Head and Shoulders TV commercial.
- Made his World Cup debut on 15 December 2005.
- Has 37 individual victories.
- Has 76 individual podiums.
- Friend of his major competitor Martin Fourcade.
- Won the big crystal globe for the 2009-2010 season.
- Has 4 discipline titles: 2 for the Individual in 2010-2011 season and 2013-2014 season. One for the Sprint in 2009-2010 season and one for the Mass Start in 2010-2011 season.
- Used to compete as a junior in the European Cup.
- During his first season in the World Cup finished 5th in three races, two of them in sprints (Brezno-Osrblie and Ruhpolding), and the other in a mass start (Holmenkollen). Finished the overall season in 22nd place.
- Was selected for the 2006 Olympics, to compete in the mass start, in which he came 6th, after hitting 18/20 targets and finished 53.8 seconds behind the winner Michael Greis of Germany.
- As a junior won 4 gold medals in junior World Championships. First and second gold was in the pursuit, and the relay in Haute Maurienne in 2004, and the third and fourth gold in the individual and the sprint in Kontiolahti in 2005.
- Won 2 bronze medals from the individual and the pursuit in the junior World Championship in Koscielisko in 2003.
- For his first season in the World Cup had 82% shooting average, making him the 42nd best shot of the tour. The same shooting percentage had Halvard Hanevold and Vincent Defrasne. He hit 243 out of 295 targets.
- On 13 December 2007 took his first world cup victory, at the 20 km Individual in Pokljuka.
- His big breakthrough came when he won 2 individual gold medals at the 2008 World Championships, winning both the individual and the mass start ahead of Ole Einar Bjørndalen.
- The 2008-2009 season started off by placing on the podium in every of the five first races. After Christmas fell ill during the world championships and didn't compete in several races. However returned with a 3rd place at the mass start in Trondheim.
- Won a silver medal in the 10 km sprint at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver on the first day of men's biathlon competition.
- Won 2 gold Olympic medals in the 20 km individual and the relay event in the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver.
- Won 2 gold medals in 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia: in the 15 km mass start and in the mixed relay (together with Ole Einar Bjørndalen, Tiril Eckhoff and Tora Berger).
- Has 8 Olympic medals (4 gold, 3 silver and one bronze).
- Has 20 medals (11 gold, 6 silver and 3 bronze) from World Championships.
- Is considered Ole Einar Bjørndalen's successor.
- Is known for his fast, steady shooting in any weather conditions also for his fast, exploding and very elegant skiing. However he has sudden drops in his sports form.
- Won a bronze medal in the 12.5 km pursuit at the 2016 World Championships in Holmenkollen.
- Resembles actor Ryan Reynolds.
- Won 3 Olympic medals from the Games in Pyeongchang in 2018 - 2 silver from the men's relay and the mixed relay; one bronze from the 15 km mass start.
- On 9 April 2018 announced his retirement from the sport.
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