About Biathlon

Biathlon is the winter Olympic sport combining cross-country skiing and rifle marksmanship. Alternating skiing and shooting, Biathletes compete under the pressure of the clock that continues to run even as they stop to shoot. There is a penalty for each missed shot so Biathletes must balance speed on the course and on the range with shooting accuracy. The athletes shoot from two positions - Prone and Standing - in various different sequences depending on the competition. In each shooting stage the athlete has five shots to hit five targets 50m down range. The target hit area for prone is 4.5cm (less than 2 inches) and 11.5cm (about 4.5 inches) for standing. When hit, the black target turns white showing everyone the shot hit the target - or not.

Other Biathlon Disciplines: Summer biathlon combines rifle marksmanship and running and has a large following in the USA. Though not yet an Olympic sport, World Championships are held every year. There are also national championships and a series of over twenty competitions throughout the USA.