When you think of winter sports, you might picture figure skaters gliding gracefully across the ice or downhill skiers carving through powder at breakneck speeds. But there’s one Olympic event that stands apart from the rest—a unique fusion of explosive athletic power and laser-focused precision. That sport is biathlon, and it combines two seemingly contradictory skills: cross-country skiing and rifle shooting.
A Sport Born from Military Necessity
Biathlon’s origins trace back to 18th-century Norway, where ski-and-shoot competitions were held between border patrol units. The sport developed from military patrol exercises in 19th-century Scandinavia, rooted in the practical demands of ski warfare. Norwegian soldiers would ski long distances across snowy terrain while carrying their rifles, a training method that prepared them for the harsh realities of winter combat.
By the time the first Olympic Winter Games rolled around in 1924, military patrol had evolved into an organized team sport. Each team consisted of four men—an officer (captain), a non-commissioned officer, and two soldiers—who covered 25 kilometers while shooting at balloons from 150 meters away. Military patrol appeared again as a demonstration sport at the 1928, 1936, and 1948 Winter Games before the modern version of biathlon officially became an Olympic sport at the 1960 Winter Olympics in Squaw Valley, California. Initially, only men’s events were featured, but women’s biathlon made its Olympic debut in 1992 in Albertville, France. Today, there are 11 total Olympic events: five men’s events, four women’s events, and one mixed relay.
The Equipment: Precision Engineering Meets Athletic Design
Athletes in biathlon competitions carry specially designed .22-caliber rifles that weigh at least 7.7 pounds. These rifles are highly customized for balance, comfort, and accuracy—every ounce and angle matters when you’re trying to hit a target the size of a golf ball while your heart is pounding from intense physical exertion.
How Biathlon Works
A biathlon competition consists of a race where contestants ski a series of loops on a cross-country trail system, pausing for either two or four shooting rounds called bouts. Half of the shooting is done in the prone position (lying on their stomach), and the other half is done standing. The challenge is significant: targets sit 55 yards away, with standing shooters aiming at a 4.5-inch target and prone contestants shooting at a much smaller 1.8-inch target.
The stakes are high. For every missed shot, athletes must ski a 150-meter penalty loop or receive a time penalty, depending on the event. A single missed shot can drop a competitor from first place to outside the top 10, making every trigger pull a moment of intense pressure.
The Physical and Mental Challenge
What makes biathlon so extraordinarily challenging is the constant battle between speed and composure. Athletes regularly reach speeds of 18 to 20 miles per hour on their skis, even with the added weight of the rifle strapped to their backs. Then, in an instant, they must transition from explosive skiing to absolute stillness at the shooting range.
The athlete’s task is almost contradictory: lower your heart rate quickly, slow your breathing, and steady your hands immediately after pushing your body to its aerobic limit. One small mistake at the range can undo minutes of hard work on the course. Despite the presence of rifles, biathlon is considered one of the safest Olympic sports, thanks to strict safety regulations and controlled shooting environments.
Global Dominance and American Dreams
Biathlon has long been dominated by Norway, Germany, France, and Sweden. Norway stands out as the most successful nation in Olympic biathlon history, winning 56 total medals, followed by Germany with 54 and France with 32. These powerhouse nations have developed robust training programs and deep sporting cultures around biathlon.
Biathlon remains the only Winter Olympic event that the United States has not won a medal in. However, the American team this year includes two of the best biathletes who’ve ever competed for Team USA.
Deedra Irwin is currently considered the top American female biathlete. She made history by taking seventh place in the 15-kilometer individual event at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games—the best individual biathlon finish ever for Team USA at the Winter Olympics.
Campbell Wright is currently considered the top American male biathlete. At only 23 years old, he competed for New Zealand at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games before switching to represent the United States. Last year, he became the most decorated American biathlete in a single World Championship after winning two silver medals in the sprint and pursuit events.
What’s Next
Three biathlon events have already taken place at these Olympics, with the next scheduled for Friday. As Team USA continues its quest for that elusive first medal, Irwin and Wright represent the country’s best hope yet to break through in this demanding and captivating sport. Whether they succeed or not, biathlon will continue to showcase one of the most unique tests of human ability in all of sports—the marriage of endurance and precision, speed and stillness, chaos and calm.