He took the Olympic gold baton as late as the Vancouver 2010 Olympics, the same season he put the skis and rifle on the shelf. He also won Olympic gold individually at 20 km in Nagano in 1998 and in relay in Salt Lake City in 2002.
To this should be added five World Cup golds. He won an individual gold of 20 km at the World Cup in Khanty-Mansiysk in 2003. The others were in team context.
In recent years he has been an expert on the Norwegian NRK, where there is great understanding.
"He was with us in NRK all weekend"- It's terribly tragic. He was with us in NRK all weekend in connection with (Martin) Fourcade's competition in France. This comes as a terrible shock, says Ola Lunde, who comments on biathlon for the Norwegian public service channel to Dagbladet.
Lunde experienced Hanevold, from Asker, both as an active and a colleague.
- As an active, he was the most devoted I have seen. He had no special physical talent, but no one worked harder than he did. That is also why he became Olympic champion, says Lunde.
The cause of death is not known. Hanevold leaves behind wife and two children.