Know the game: what smart fans need to know about Biathlon

In winter, there is no more challenging sport than that of Biathlon, a mixture of gruelling cross-country skiing and skilled rifle shooting.

Early inhabitants revered the Norse god Ullr for skiing and hunting, and this reverence is deeply connected to the origins of biathlon.

A biathlon competition is challenging because not only do they require high physical stamina, but they are interrupted by frequent stops to shoot a sequence of targets.

Olympic Biathlon is a combination of five events − individual, sprint, pursuit, relay, and mass start, making it one of the world’s most challenging and globally recognized winter sports.

The aim of Biathlon

Being a combination of two sports, Biathlon favours athletes who are adept at composure and accuracy as marksmen, combined with power and endurance when skiing and skill as marksmen.

Biathletes race around a course, only stopping at set interludes to shoot five targets 50 metres away. At each shooting stage, a biathlete shoots at targets, and biathletes shoot from both prone shooting and standing position. For every target a biathlete misses, either a distance or time penalty is added to their score, depending on the race format. Time penalties are usually one minute added to the biathlete’s total; a distance penalty is where the biathlete must complete a 150-metre loop on a side course before re-joining the main course.

Biathletes then, need to be fast, focussed and have enduring stamina; fast enough to ski around the course but slow enough to maintain control when shooting at targets. The shooting stages alternate between prone shooting and standing position.

In some formats, the winner is determined by who crosses the finish line first, known as finish line wins.

In the pursuit format, starting positions are determined by results from the previous race.

Skiing

Either using the skate method or freestyle, depending if the skier is going uphill or downhill. You will notice participants use their poles to ‘climb’ and push themselves upward, but not use them to obtain increased speed when skiing downhill.

Shooting

Biathletes should be entirely fit to ski fast across the course. They require a controlled heart rate once needed to shoot at targets. After an adrenaline-drenched ski climb, it is tough for biathletes to restrain themselves to shoot five targets at a distance of 50m. When shooting, biathletes are in a prone position (laying down) or standing up.

Cross-country skiing techniques in biathlon

Cross country skiing is the engine that drives every biathlon race, demanding both power and finesse from athletes. The most common technique seen in biathlon competitions is the skating style, which revolutionized the sport in the 1980s. Using ski poles for propulsion, biathletes glide across the snow with a combination of speed and efficiency, adapting their rhythm to the terrain and race conditions.

Techniques like the 2-1-short and 2-1-long allow athletes to maximize their momentum, whether they’re climbing a hill or sprinting toward the shooting range. The choice of skis and the way athletes use their ski poles can make a significant difference, especially as snow conditions change throughout the season. Mastery of cross country skiing is essential for any biathlete hoping to compete at the highest level, as every second gained on the course can be the difference between victory and defeat.

A brief history of Biathlon

The word biathlon comes from the Greek words bi and athlon meaning ‘two’ and ‘contest.’ Initially conceived in Norway as a military training method during their harsh winters, the first ski club with Biathlon was formed in 1861. The Trysil Rifle and Ski Club, founded in Norway in 1861, played a significant role in biathlon history by promoting military skiing and marksmanship, and is recognized as one of the earliest biathlon organizations. By 1924 Biathlon had made its way to the Winter Olympics as a competitive event.

In terms of organizational development, the UIPMB was created to govern both biathlon and modern pentathlon, with a dedicated biathlon branch overseeing the sport. The biathlon branch was officially separated in 1998 with the formation of the International Biathlon Union, marking a major administrative milestone. Biathlon was first included in the Olympic program at the 1960 Winter Olympics in Squaw Valley, France, marking a key moment in Olympic history.

Fast-forward to the 1950s and Biathlon became more mainstream; adopted by both Sweden and the Soviet Union – with the first Biathlon World Championship held in 1958. The sport continued to grow with the introduction of women’s biathlon, which was included in international competitions and world championships, further expanding the reach and significance of biathlon on the global stage.

Today, Biathlon is still highly dominated by athletes from northern European countries, namely Finland, Norway, Germany and Russia.

Equipment needed for Biathlon athletes

As Biathlon is a winter sport, the equipment required is primed for the harsh climate and the demanding sport itself.

Apart from the obvious winter clothes to protect athletes from the cold, the two defining pieces of equipment are skis and a rifle.

Skis

The skis used in biathlon are specifically crafted for cross country skiing, designed to balance speed, control, and adaptability. Typically longer and narrower than downhill skis, biathlon skis are chosen based on the athlete’s height and the specific demands of the course. With a width of around 5 cm, these skis are paired with bindings that allow for efficient movement and quick transitions between skiing and shooting.

Athletes work closely with coaches and equipment technicians to select the perfect skis for each race, taking into account factors like snow texture and temperature. This attention to detail ensures that every glide is as smooth and powerful as possible, giving biathletes the edge they need in world-class competitions.

Rifle

A rifle is slung over a harness when biathletes are skiing. When they pause at set intervals to complete their shooting targets, they will use 0.22 calibre bullets to complete their shooting tasks.

For the rifle targets themselves, metallic discs are placed in a small box, with varying coloured discs denoting whether a target has been completed.

Biathlon at the Winter Olympics

There are five race formats at the Winter Olympics that biathletes can compete in, they are as follows:

The individual competition is similar to a staggered time trial, where the participants begin at 30-second intervals with the intention of competing for the best time. Men race over 20km, with the women’s individual being a 15km race. During the individual competition, competitors face four intervals of shooting, alternating between a standing and prone position, and must hit five targets with five bullets. Missed targets result in added time penalties, making precision and consistency crucial.

The Sprint format is precisely the same as the individual except that the distances and shooting obligations are halved; so, 7.5km for women and 10km for men.

The Pursuit format is not only an exciting race to watch, but the stakes are particularly high as only the top finishers in the race will qualify for the Mass Start format described later. The competition is 10km long for women and 10km for men, where competitors start the race separated by their results from the sprint format, decided by their time intervals finishing that race.

Biathletes then, aim to catch up to the leaders (hence the name pursuit) to overtake them and whoever crosses the finish line first wins the race.

The top 30 fastest racers from the previous pursuit format enter the Mass Start format. The race is 15km long for men, with 12.5km for women. All competitors start the competition at the same time and the first to finish wins. This race can become very congested but all the same, very exciting to follow.

Finally, the relays are where four competitors compete on the same course and the first team to complete the course wins the race. Relay events are divided into Men’s, Women’s and Mixed, with each athlete skiing a leg and shooting in sequence, following specific rules for shooting and transitions.

Additionally, the single mixed relay is a mixed-gender event where one male and one female athlete alternate skiing and shooting, with unique exchange mechanics and penalty rules, and is featured in major competitions.

The super sprint is a newer, fast-paced event format featuring a short qualification round and a final race with all athletes starting together, emphasizing speed and accuracy.

Athletes accumulate world cup points throughout the season based on their performance in these events, with the overall winner determined by the total points earned.

How to bet on biathlon: know the game

With this guide to biathlon, you should have enough to get started watching this tough and physically demanding winter sport. Combining cross-country skiing with precision rifle shooting, biathlon challenges both stamina and composure—making it one of the most unique and engaging disciplines in competitive sport.

Races vary in format, including Individual, Sprint, Pursuit, Mass Start, and Relay events. Athletes ski a set distance with multiple stops for target shooting. For every missed shot, they either ski a penalty loop or have time added to their total, depending on the event.

What to consider when watching and betting:

• Shooting accuracy: Athletes with stronger shooting stats often outperform despite slower skiing times.

• Weather: Wind and snowfall affect visibility and shooting precision.

• Fatigue: Late-season form and recovery between events matter, especially in back-to-back competitions.

• Nation vs. individual: Some countries consistently produce elite biathletes and dominate team events.

Popular betting markets include:

• Outright winner

• Podium finish

• Head-to-head matchups

• Fastest ski time or best shooting accuracy

To increase your edge, consider checking betting tipsters with experience in winter sports. For those seeking market inefficiencies, arbitrage betting software can help maximise profit potential.

Biathlon blends endurance and exactness like no other sport. With a little insight, it’s a thrill to follow—and even more rewarding to understand.