He finished ninth at the 2001 World Championships, fourteenth at the 2002 European Championships and twelfth at the 2005 World Championships. In addition he competed at the 1999 World Championships and the Olympic Games in 2000 and 2004 without success. He became Norwegian champion in 1500 m in 2001, 2003 and 2004 and in 5000 m in 2003 and 2005. Following a disappointing 2006 European Championships, Bakken announced his intentions to concentrate on medicine studies in 2007.