Biathlon Explained: Where Skiing Meets Shooting

Biathlon pairs endurance with precision. Athletes ski hard, then must steady their breathing and heart rate to hit small targets.

The basic idea

Biathlon combines cross-country skiing with rifle shooting. Athletes carry a small-calibre rifle on their backs and stop at a shooting range between ski laps. Hitting targets quickly and accurately is as important as skiing speed.

At the range

Athletes shoot at five targets from 50 metres, either prone or standing. The prone targets are smaller in diameter than the standing ones, and knocking down all five is a “clean” stage.

Penalties for misses

• Sprint, pursuit, mass start and relay: each missed target means a penalty loop of 150 metres.
• Individual event: each miss adds a one-minute time penalty.

Common formats

• Sprint: a short race with two shooting stages.
• Individual: the longest race, with four shooting stages and time penalties.
• Pursuit: athletes start with gaps determined by an earlier race.
• Mass start: all athletes start together.
• Relay: teams share the distance among several athletes.

The skill challenge

Athletes ski at high intensity and then have seconds to calm their breathing. Heart-rate control and a consistent routine are as important as raw fitness.

Where it is popular

Biathlon draws large crowds in central and northern Europe, with well-known venues such as Oberhof and Ruhpolding.

Verify current rules

The International Biathlon Union maintains the competition rules; consult its website for the latest version.