Johan Olav Botn told Swedish and Norwegian media, with the gold medal around his neck, that he had been thinking about himself and what he would do in four rounds of skiing and four shooting bouts.
But when I go out on the last lap, the emotions come flooding in. My thoughts go to Sivert pretty quickly and I feel like we're riding the last lap together. And I feel like we're riding across the finish line together, he says.
When I see a number next to my name, I think of all the training hours we've had together and all the high-altitude days we've had in recent years, and it's very emotional.
The Olympic debutant gave it his all and had a great race in the 20-kilometer race in Antholz.
Found my friend dead
On December 23, Johan Olav Botn was supposed to pick up Sivert Guttorm Bakken for a training session in Lavazè, Italy. He found his teammate dead in his hotel room.
It was a complete state of shock and panic, he told Norwegian TV2 in January.
The Norwegian also said that he received psychological help after the incident.
There are images in my head that I realize I will have to live with for the rest of my life. I think it is wise to find a way to live with the images.
It is still unclear what caused Bakken's death. He was wearing a high-altitude mask when he was found. When Botn crossed the finish line as the gold medalist, he pointed to the sky.
Sivert, we made it, he shouted, according to NRK.
Swedish tribute
Swedish Viktor Brandt, who finished 37th, heaped praise on his Norwegian colleague:
"I don't think it's possible to explain to people how well he did. Few people shoot four clean rounds in an entire career. He made his Olympic debut after everything that has happened," he told TT's correspondent.
Sebastian Samuelsson was the best Swede in seventh place, 2.29 minutes behind Botn. Martin Ponsiluoma missed three shots and finished ninth.
Eric Perrot of France took silver and Norwegian Sturla Holm Lægreid took bronze.
