Biathlon combines cross-country skiing with precision rifle shooting.
Biathlon combines cross-country skiing with precision rifle shooting. The sport, which originated from military training exercises in Scandinavia, is a real crowd-pleaser filled with tension and drama. Here’s what to know about biathlon at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.How it works
Some liken biathlon to running up 20 flights of stairs and then trying to thread a needle. Skiing stresses the muscles and lungs, while target shooting requires intense mental focus. Each racer carries a .22-caliber rifle on their back as they ski trails that run between 1.5 kilometers and 3.5 kilometers (0.9 to 2.2 miles), depending on race format. They enter the shooting range and try to hit five targets 50 meters (55 yards) away — first in the prone position at targets the size of a golf ball and then standing, at targets the size of a compact disc. Racers must ski a 150-meter penalty loop or take a time penalty for each missed shot and head out for another lap. The fastest racer wins.Who to watch
Even though biathlon legend Johannes Thingnes Boe retired last season, Norway retains a formidable men’s team. Sturla Holm Laegreid is the defending overall World Cup champion, while Johan-Olav Botn soared to the top of the standings at the start of this season.
