Winter Olympic Sports: Biathlon
Quick Answer
Biathlon is a Winter Olympic sport combining cross-country skiing and target rifle shooting. Originally developed as a training exercise for Norwegian soldiers, it made its official Olympic debut at Squaw Valley in 1960 and now features 11 events at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Games.
- Athletes ski 7–20 km and shoot .22 calibre rifles at targets 50 meters away
- Missed shots result in 150 m penalty loops (sprint/pursuit/relay) or 1-minute time additions (individual)
- 11 events at Milan-Cortina 2026: 5 men's, 5 women's, and 1 mixed relay
The Winter Olympic sport of Biathlon is a discipline which combines both cross-country skiing and target rifle shooting events. The sport was first developed as a training exercise for Norwegian soldiers — with the first competition held in 1767.
Olympic BiathlonThe cross-country skiing component covers a distance of 7 to 20km depending which event of the biathlon contest.
In the shooting component, .22 calibre rifles are used at a range of 50 meters. At each stop, competitors have five bullets and five targets to hit. Each miss in the sprint, pursuit, and relay events results in a 150-m penalty loop. Each miss in the individual event adds one minute to the athlete's final time.
"Biathlon is unique among Olympic sports in demanding both extraordinary cardiovascular endurance for the skiing segments and the fine motor control and calm precision required for marksmanship — two skills that are physiologically at odds with each other."— Robert Wood, founder of Topend Sports
Pro Tip: Watch the athletes' heart rates during shooting segments — top biathletes can lower their heart rate from 180+ bpm to around 140 bpm within seconds of reaching the shooting range, a skill developed through years of training.
Events in Milan & Cortina d'Ampezzo 2026
Men's Events
- 10 km sprint
- 12.5 km pursuit
- 15 km mass start
- 20 km individual
- 4 x 7.5 km relay
Women's Events
- 7.5 km sprint
- 10 km pursuit
- 12.5 km mass start
- 15 km individual
- 4 x 6 km relay
Mixed
- Relay: 2 x 6 km (women), 2 x 7.5 km (men)
Winners of the Biathlon Events in Milan & Cortina d'Ampezzo 2026
Here are the athletes who won gold, silver, and bronze in the Biathlon event at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics:
Biathlon Men's 20km Individual
| Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|
| BOTN Johan-Olav (Norway) | PERROT Eric (France) | LAEGREID Sturla Holm (Norway) |
Biathlon Women's 15km Individual
| Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|
| SIMON Julia (France) | JEANMONNOT Lou (France) | HRISTOVA Lora (Bulgaria) |
Biathlon Men's 10km Sprint
| Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|
| FILLON MAILLET Quentin (France) | CHRISTIANSEN Vetle Sjaastad (Norway) | LAEGREID Sturla Holm (Norway) |
"France and Norway have emerged as the dominant biathlon nations at the 2026 Games, continuing a tradition of Nordic and European excellence in a sport that demands both endurance and precision."— According to sports science expert Robert Wood
Biathlon Women's 7.5km Sprint
| Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|
| KIRKEEIDE Maren (Norway) | MICHELON Oceane (France) | JEANMONNOT Lou (France) |
Biathlon Men's 12.5km Pursuit
| Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|
| PONSILUOMA Martin (Sweden) | LAEGREID Sturla Holm (Norway) | JACQUELIN Emilien (France) |
Biathlon Women's 10km Pursuit
| Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|
| VITTOZZI Lisa (Italy) | KIRKEEIDE Maren (Norway) | MINKKINEN Suvi (Finland) |
Pro Tip: In the pursuit event, athletes start at staggered intervals based on their sprint results — so the first to cross the finish line wins. This makes pursuit races among the most exciting biathlon events to watch.
Biathlon Men's 15km Mass Start
| Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|
| DALE-SKJEVDAL Johannes (Norway) | LAEGREID Sturla Holm (Norway) | FILLON MAILLET Quentin (France) |
Biathlon Women's 12.5km Mass Start
| Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|
| MICHELON Oceane (France) | SIMON Julia (France) | VOBORNIKOVA Tereza (Czechia) |
"Norway's Sturla Holm Laegreid has been one of the standout performers in biathlon at the 2026 Games, collecting multiple medals across individual and team events — a testament to the depth of Norwegian biathlon training programs."— Robert J. Wood's research at Topend Sports
Biathlon Men's 4 x 7.5km Relay
| Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|
| France | Norway | Sweden |
Biathlon Women's 4 x 6km Relay
| Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|
| France | Sweden | Norway |
Biathlon Mixed Relay
| Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|
| France | Italy | Germany |
History
At the 1924 Games, a precursor event to the biathlon was an event called Military Patrol, which involved teams of four competing in 25 km cross-country skiing and rifle shooting. Military Patrol was also a demonstration sport in 1928, 1936 and 1948. Biathlon made its official Olympic debut at Squaw Valley in 1960. Women's biathlon made its Olympic debut in 1992 in Albertville. The mixed-relay biathlon was added to the program in 2014.
Trivia
- In Squaw Valley 1960, Sweden's Klas Lestander won the first-ever biathlon.
- Mechanical targets for the Biathlon event was first used at the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid.
- Biathlon athlete Ole Einar Bjoerndalen of Norway is the most successful ever Winter Olympian in terms of total medals won. In 2014 the 40-year-old moved his personal medal tally to 13, eight of them Gold.
- In the women's events of 2014, Belarus's Darya Domracheva made history as the first female to win three Biathlon Gold medals at the one Games, winning the Individual, Pursuit and Mass Start events.
Record Holder
Ole Einar Bjoerndalen's 13 Olympic medals (8 gold) make him the most decorated Winter Olympian of all time, a record that still stands heading into the 2026 Games.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is biathlon at the Winter Olympics?
Biathlon is a Winter Olympic sport that combines cross-country skiing and target rifle shooting. Athletes ski distances of 7 to 20 km and stop at shooting ranges where they fire .22 calibre rifles at targets 50 meters away. The sport originated as a training exercise for Norwegian soldiers, with the first competition held in 1767.
How many biathlon events are at the 2026 Winter Olympics?
There are 11 biathlon events at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics: five men's events (10km sprint, 12.5km pursuit, 15km mass start, 20km individual, 4x7.5km relay), five women's events (7.5km sprint, 10km pursuit, 12.5km mass start, 15km individual, 4x6km relay), and one mixed relay.
What happens when a biathlete misses a target?
The penalty depends on the event. In the sprint, pursuit, and relay events, each miss results in a 150-meter penalty loop that the athlete must ski. In the individual event, each miss adds one minute to the athlete's final time. Competitors have five bullets and five targets at each shooting stop.
When did biathlon first appear at the Winter Olympics?
Biathlon made its official Olympic debut at Squaw Valley in 1960, though a precursor event called Military Patrol was held at the 1924 Games. Women's biathlon was added in 1992 at Albertville, and the mixed relay was introduced in 2014.
Who is the most successful Olympic biathlete?
Ole Einar Bjoerndalen of Norway is the most successful Winter Olympian in terms of total medals won. By 2014, the then-40-year-old had accumulated 13 medals, eight of them gold. In women's biathlon, Belarus's Darya Domracheva made history in 2014 as the first woman to win three biathlon gold medals at a single Games.
Which country dominated biathlon at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics?
France was the standout nation, winning gold in the men's 10km sprint, women's 12.5km mass start, men's relay, women's relay, and mixed relay. Norway also performed strongly with multiple individual medals, particularly through Sturla Holm Laegreid who medaled in several events.
References
- International Olympic Committee. (2026). Biathlon at the Olympic Winter Games — Milan-Cortina 2026. IOC Official Records.
- International Biathlon Union. (2026). IBU Competition Results — Olympic Games 2026. IBU Official Records.
- International Olympic Committee. (2022). Beijing 2022 — Biathlon Results and Records. IOC Official Report.
- Olympic Channel. (2024). The History of Biathlon at the Winter Olympics. Olympic Channel Editorial.
- Wallechinsky, D. & Loucky, J. (2014). The Complete Book of the Winter Olympics. Aurum Press.
- Wood, R. (2010). Biathlon — Winter Olympic Sports. Topend Sports.
- International Biathlon Union. (2025). IBU Biathlon World Cup — Season Results and Rankings. IBU Official Records.
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