Biathlon combines cross-country skiing and rifle shooting. Athletes race over a set distance on skis, stopping at designated shooting ranges to fire at targets. Precision and speed are crucial, as missed shots result in penalties, typically extra skiing laps or time added to their final score.
The sport demands a unique blend of endurance, agility, and marksmanship, testing athletes’ ability to manage their physical exertion while maintaining accuracy under pressure. It’s a captivating spectacle that highlights the athletes’ versatility and resilience.
Biathlon debuted at the 1960 Winter Olympics with the men’s 20 km individual event and continued to add events over time. In 1992, women’s biathlon debuted with the 15 km individual, 3×7.5 km relay (4×7.5 km during 1994-2002 and 4×6 km in 2006), and 7.5 km sprint.
Historically, Norway and Germany have dominated the sport, with 54 and 53 total medals, respectively. In Beijing, Norway led the medal race with 14 medals.
When to watch biathlon at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics
Biathlon at the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics will take place from Sunday, Feb. 8, to Saturday, Feb. 21, ending with the women’s 12.5km mass start final.
Venue
Biathlon at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics will be held at the Anterselva Biathlon Arena, an international biathlon center in the Province of Bolzano which has played host to Biathlon World Cups and other competitions for many years.
2026 Milan Cortina Olympics venues
Click on a cluster to see the venues at that location.
Events
Biathlon Events at the 2026 Olympics
Men
Women
10 km sprint
7.5 km sprint
20 km individual
15 km individual
12.5 km pursuit
10 km pursuit
15 km mass start
12.5 km mass start
4 x 7.5 km relay
4 x 6 km relay
Mixed
4 x 6 km mixed relay
100 days out from the Milan-Cortina Winter Games, here’s what makes this Olympics one for the history books.