A winter Olympic sport combining cross-country skiing and rifle shooting, demanding endurance and steady aim under fatigue.
Origin and rules
Biathlon traces to military ski-and-shoot patrols in Scandinavia, formalised after the Second World War. Athletes ski a marked loop, stopping at the range to fire five rounds prone or standing at small targets 50 metres away.
How it plays
Each missed shot adds a penalty: extra time, a penalty loop, or extra rounds depending on event. Olympic events include sprint, individual, pursuit, mass start, and relays. Athletes shoot a tiny target while their heart races from skiing.
Competition
The IBU Biathlon World Cup and the World Championships are the top events. Norway, Germany, France, Sweden, Italy, and Belarus produce many leading biathletes. The sport has been Olympic since 1960 for men and 1992 for women.
Find more sports by letter
Biathlon starts with B and ends with N. Browse other sports along the same letter.
Sports that contain a letter from "Biathlon":