Norwegian biathlete Ole Einar Bjoerndalen, the most decorated Winter Olympian of all time, picked up two gold medals in Sochi but lost his rifle on a flight to Zurich.
Bjoerndalen lost the gun and other luggage on his flight out of the Russian Olympic host city, Itar-Tass reported, citing Norwegian media.
The 40-year-old athlete said that he registered the rifle at the Olympic stadium, and then was told it had been delivered to the airport. From there, it is not clear where the rifle went.
"If the rifle is not found it will be a very big problem for me," he said.
Bjoerndalen secured his legacy as the most decorated Winter Olympian in history after winning gold medals in the biathlon mixed relay and sprint events at Sochi, bringing his career total to eight gold medals, four silvers, and one bronze.
Following this year's Biathlon World Cup season he plans to retire from the sport.
Over his career Bjoerndalen has garnered a reputation as the "King of Biathlon" while competing in the last five Winter Olympics before Sochi. In 2008 a 3-meter statue of the athlete was unveiled in his hometown of Simostranda, Norway.
