BEIJING — Christian and Scott Gow have been together since Day One, if not in birth then at least in biathlon. Now 31 and 28 years old, respectively, the Canadian brothers first signed up for the sport at the same summer camp. They have trained together at the same facilities, raced together at the same events, reached the World Cup circuit at the same time and, most recently, finished sixth in the men’s 4x7.5-kilometer relay at the 2022 Winter Olympics together.
“We’ve been able to experience quite a bit together,“ Christian says. “I can’t imagine what it’d be like to be apart, because we literally never have. Much more boring, I would think.”
The invisible coronavirus has impacted these Beijing Games in many tangible ways. Barriers and security guards surround every competition venue and hotel, separating thousands of “closed loop” attendees from the outside world. Throat-tickling PCR tests are mandatory every morning, while digital temperature checks and sanitizer-spritzing volunteers wait inside every doorway. And while a small contingent of loved ones—mom, dad, little brother, grandma and one of their cousins—were able to travel to PyeongChang to cheer on the Gow brothers four years ago, pandemic protocols have put the kibosh on any sort of kin attending in Beijing.
All of which makes it that much more special for the Gows to have each other. “Under these circumstances, where he’s the only family contact I’ve had over the last several months, it’s a big boost,” Scott says.
Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP
And they are far from alone: By one unofficial count conducted by Sports Illustrated, with help from Olympic researchers and databases, at least 76 pairs of siblings, or nearly 5% of the total athlete headcount, have competed in Beijing. And that doesn't include four-plus sets of cousins, two married couples, dozens more in public dating relationships and China's controversial star skier Eileen Gu and her manager-mother, Yan Gu.
“No way,” says Canadian snowboarder Darcy Sharpe, brother of freeski halfpipe silver medalist Cassie Sharpe, when informed of the projected total. “I came here and everyone was like, 'This is such a rare thing!’ But I guess it does maybe run in genetics. And definitely there’s something to be said about having all these shared experiences that elevates both of you.”
To that end, it has been a banner three weeks for sibling success. A whopping four brother-sister pairs populated the Danish men’s and women’s ice hockey teams that each made its Olympic debut. Finnish cross-country skier Iivo Niskanen won gold in the men’s 15km classic one day after sister Kerttu took silver in the women’s 10km, while Hannah and Elvira Oeberg of Sweden shared first in the women’s 4x6km biathlon relay. None, though, have enjoyed more DNA-centric dominance than the Bø biathlete brothers: Try saying that nine times fast, once for each medal that Johannes Thingnes and Tarjei have combined to bring home to Norway
