Biathlon is one of winter sports' most unique challenges. Athletes must master two completely different skills: the endurance of cross-country skiing and the precision of rifle shooting.
What is Biathlon?
In biathlon, athletes ski cross-country courses with a small-bore rifle on their back. They stop at shooting ranges to hit targets, then continue skiing. Missed shots mean penalties - either extra skiing distance or time added.
The heart rate difference is extreme. During skiing, athletes' hearts can beat 180+ times per minute. They must then calm themselves enough to shoot at targets just 4.5 centimeters wide from 50 meters away.
Shooting: Prone vs Standing
Prone shooting: Athletes lie on the ground. This is more stable, with targets that are smaller (4.5cm diameter). Miss a shot, and you add penalty time or distance.
Standing shooting: Athletes remain upright. The targets are larger (11.5cm) because standing is less stable. This requires incredible body control after skiing at full intensity.
Race Formats
Sprint (7.5km women / 10km men)
- Two shooting stages (prone + standing)
- Each miss = 150m penalty loop
- Fastest total time wins
Pursuit (10km women / 12.5km men)
- Start order based on sprint results
- Four shooting stages
- First to cross finish line wins
Individual (15km women / 20km men)
- Four shooting stages
- Each miss = 1 minute added to time
- Tests endurance and accuracy equally
Mass Start (12.5km women / 15km men)
- Top 30 athletes start together
- Four shooting stages
- Exciting head-to-head racing
Relay (4x6km women / 4x7.5km men)
- Teams of four
- Three spare rounds per shooting stage
- Penalty loop only after using all spares
Star Athletes
Norway's Johannes Thingnes Bø dominates men's biathlon with incredible skiing speed and shooting accuracy. His brother Tarjei Bø is also a top competitor.
France's Quentin Fillon Maillet and Emilien Jacquelin challenge Norwegian dominance, while Germany's Benedikt Doll adds to the competition.
In women's biathlon, Italy's Lisa Vittozzi and Dorothea Wierer lead the charge, alongside France's Justine Braisaz-Bouchet and Sweden's Elvira Öberg.
The IBU World Cup
The IBU World Cup runs from November to March across venues in Europe. Athletes earn points based on race finishes, with the overall leader wearing the yellow bib.
Major venues include Ruhpolding (Germany), Antholz (Italy), and Oslo Holmenkollen (Norway).
Watch on Neve26
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