Klopp rings biathlon bell as ex-football coach enjoys Olympic outing

Anterselva, Italy – Jürgen Klopp’s first Winter Olympics experience turned into an impromptu starring role on Tuesday when the former Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool manager rang the bell to signal the final lap of the men’s 4 x 7.5 kilometre biathlon relay.

Klopp, now global head of soccer at Red Bull, watched the race from the stands alongside retired Norwegian legend Ole Einar Bjørndalen, whose 13 Olympic medals make him the most decorated winter athlete in history. The pair exchanged thoughts as France surged to victory ahead of Norway and Sweden, while the German quartet narrowly missed the podium in fourth.

“I am hugely looking forward to it. This is my first experience at the Winter Olympics,” Klopp told Norwegian broadcaster TV2 before the starters’ orders echoed across the South Tyrolean range.

Bjørndalen revealed that Klopp finalised his travel plans only two weeks before the Games began. “He decided to drop by, and I helped with the organisation,” the eight-time Olympic champion said. Their friendship dates back to 2019, when Bjørndalen visited Liverpool’s training complex and received a personal stadium tour from the then-manager.

Klopp arrived in Italy on Monday and spent part of his opening day at the German House in Cortina d’Ampezzo, where he met tennis icon Boris Becker. Becker had earlier taken in Germany’s men’s ice hockey clash against the United States in Milan, continuing a weekend of high-profile German sporting crossovers.

Though no German medals materialised on the biathlon course, Klopp’s presence added a touch of football flair to an afternoon already charged with Olympic drama.