Winter Olympic Sports >> Biathlon

ABOUT

Biathlon was originally a tactic of survival rather than a sport.  Northern Europeans skied to hunt for food and, later, skied with weapons to defend their countries.  The word "biathlon" stems from the Greek word for two contests.  Today it is interpreted as a joining of two sports: cross-country skiing and rifle shooting.

In 1960, Biathlon joined the International Modern Pentathlon Union (UIPM).  But in 1993, an agreement was made to retain the Union as an umbrella body under which the UIPM and the IBU could act autonomously.  It took effect in 1998, but the two sports maintain relations in various projects.

OLYMPIC DISCIPLINE

Discover this sport through its competition format, equipment, glossary and history.

COMPETITION

Biathlon consists of ten events in the Olympic program.  Men and women compete in a sprint, pursuit, individual and relay.

Although all biathlon disciplines combine skiing and marksmanship, the sport features several distinct events.

Sprint During the sprint, women race 7.5km and men race 10km.  Competitors stop twice and must hit all five targets with five bullets.  For each target missed, athletes take a lap around the 150m penalty loop.  The top 60 finishers of this competition qualify for the pursuit.

Pursuit In the pursuit, the competitors start at intervals based on their finishing time in the sprint competition.  Women race 10km and men race 12.5km. Competitors stop four times and must hit all five targets with five bullets.  For each target missed, athletes take a lap around the 150m penalty loop.

Individual In the individual event, women race 15km and men race 20km.  All competitors stop four times at the firing range and must hit all five targets with five bullets.  For each target missed, one minute is added to their total time.

Relay the relay is a fast-paced team event in which four-person teams tackle four 7.5km legs for a total of 30km.  It begins with a mass start by the first skiers of their respective teams.  Each team member has two firing sequences and is allowed three extra bullets (a total of eight) to hit five targets, yet must load the three extra bullets one by one.  For each target left standing, competitors ski a lap around the 150m penalty loop.

LIST OF EVENTS

• 10km Men

• 12.5km pursuit Men

• 15km mass start Men

• 20km Men

• 4x7.5km relay Men

• 10km pursuit Women

• 12.5km mass start Women

• 15km Women

• 4x6km relay Women

• 7.5km Women