Biathlon is an Olympic sport combining cross-country skiing and precision rifle shooting. The combination of two different demanding skills —skiing and shooting— adds to the unpredictability of the race and therefore the excitement, suspense, and potential for surprise! When athletes arrive at the shooting range, they must shoot at a a set of five targets, with a racing heartbeat and heaving chest. Targets are set 50 m from the firing line. Prone targets are 45 mm in diameter and 115 mm for standing. Athletes must evaluate wind conditions, with some clues from the wind flags. Biathlon rifles are .22 caliber. The bullet leaves the barrel travelling 380 m/sec. It takes a small hundredth of a second and the target is hit. The clock is running, every missed target adds time or a 150 m penalty loop. Depending on the race format athletes will ski four to five loops and complete three or four rounds of shooting. Ski loops can be up to 2 km long. The race finishes up with the final ski loop; athletes pushing hard as they race against the clock!
Learn about Biathlon
Did you know the first Olympic competition for women was held in 1992 in Albertville, France? Canadian Myriam Bédard brought home an Olympic Bronze medal
learn more about biathlon at the Biathlon Canada & the International Biathlon Union websites
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check out this collection member recommended videos
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Watch: Biathlon for Newbies by IBU |
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Watch: What is Biathlon? video by Biathlon Canada |
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Watch: Biathlon: How they Train Published by TIME magazine |
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Watch: Anatomy of a Biathlete: Monika Hojnisz |
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A look inside the biathlon rifle manufacturing process. Watch: Anschütz: Making of a Biathlon Rifle |
