Biathlon combines two sports – cross-country skiing and shooting – into one race. The biathlon first made its debut 66 years ago in the 1960 Winter Olympics at the renamed Palisades Tahoe in Olympic Valley near Lake Tahoe. This year, the Winter Olympic biathlon games will be held in Antholz (Anterselva), Italy.
The biathlon sport first emerged in Scandinavia in the 18th century, and the first formal competition was likely held in 1912, according to Olympic.com.
Today, the sport has evolved into a high-tech, high-energy activity where athletes showcase their skiing and shooting capabilities. Both physical strength and constant mental attention are required for this sport in order to control heart rate and shaking in the muscles. There will be five events for men, five events for women and one mixed team relay.
A look at the biathlon’s venue
The biathlon venue is located among the high peaks adjacent to the Austrian border, near Lake Anterselva, in the stunning Antholz Valley of the Italian Dolomites.
Unable to view our graphics? Click here to see them.
Meet the athletes representing the US biathlon team
The U.S. biathlon Team is made up of four men and four women, each representing Olympians and rising stars. The biathletes representing the United States include:
US biathletes aiming for medals
Biathlon combines cross-country skiing with rifle marksmanship. Athletes sprint around laps on skis, while carrying a rifle, pausing two to four times (depending on the event) to fire at targets nearly 55 yards away while standing and lying down. Missing a target results in a penalty loop, which adds more time; the fastest time wins.
With hearts bursting out of their chests, athletes must hit a target the size of a grapefruit while standing, or the size of a golf ball from their stomachs – from the distance the length of an Olympic pool (164 ft.). The faster they ski, the harder it becomes to shoot. Athletes must focus on their breathing, as well as their heart rate, to capture a stable moment before firing a shot.
For every target missed during the competition, the athlete will be penalized. Depending on the format, the penalty can be one lap around a 150m loop, or a one-minute penalty added on to their time. The penalty loop is separate from the regular course.
The Olympic gold medal is awarded to the person who finishes each of the 11 biathlon races with the fastest time, according to Olympic.com.
Biathlon course comes with altitude
The terrain in the Antholz-Anterselva Biathlon Arena venue will be at high altitudes (5,367 feet or above), so athletes must train and adapt to the thinner air for better oxygen use and endurance, according to NBC Olympics.
Athletes race around a closed course carrying a rifle strapped to their backs and stop at designated spots to shoot at a series of targets.
Freestyle skiing, also known as skate skiing, is the most popular technique. Skis are thrust out in a V shape to provide rapid motion on flat and uphill terrain. In order to maximize speed and minimize the use of energy, especially with the additional weight of the rifle, freestyle technique efficiency is essential.
Schedule for the biathlon competition
In this Winter Olympics, biathletes are competing for a total of 11 gold medals, which will test shooting accuracy and skiing endurance in a variety of formats. Biathlon is the only Winter Olympic event in which the United States has never won a medal.
Between Feb. 8 through Feb. 21, athletes will compete in men’s and women’s individual, sprint, pursuit, mass start and mixed relay competitions.
Competition events
The 2026 Olympics features a total of 11 biathlon events across five different formats.
- Individual (men’s 20 km, women’s 15 km) – Competitors start in intervals and go through four shooting segments, with five targets each. Missed targets result in a one-minute penalty.
- Sprint (men’s 10 km, women’s 7.5 km) – The same format as individual, but half the length and with only two shooting segments. Missed targets result in a 150m penalty loop.
- Pursuit (men’s 12.5 km, women’s 10 km) – The top finishers from the sprint race start in front and the competitors have to “pursue” the leaders. The goal is to be the first to cross the finish line. There are four shooting segments with five targets each and missed targets result in a 150m penalty loop.
- Mass start (men’s 15km, women’s 12.5 km) – Competitors start simultaneously and the first to cross the finish line wins. There are four shooting segments and each missed shot results in a 150m penalty loop
- Relay (men’s 4×7.5 km, women’s 4x6km) – The first member of each relay team begins simultaneously. Each competitor has two shooting segments and they get three additional rounds – manually loaded – if they miss a target. If they still have misses, they must do the 150m penalty loop for each missed target.
- Mixed relay (4x6km men and women) – The women run the first first two legs of the relay, going 6km each, while the men run 7.5km. Each athlete has two shooting portions and get three additional rounds.
CONTRIBUTING Danielle Dreilinger/USA TODAY NETWORK
