Biathlon
Biathlon combines cross-country skiing and rifle shooting: biathletes ski a course carrying a small-bore rifle and stop at a range to shoot at five targets 50 metres away, lying down (prone) or standing. Every target missed costs time, a 150-metre penalty loop in most races or a minute added in the individual. The races run from the individual, the oldest and longest, to the sprint; the big events also hold mixed relays.
New to biathlon? Start here
How long
Skiing with stops at a range to shoot five targets; each miss costs a penalty loop or a minute
Lengths are from the rule book.
The big events, and why they matter
- 1Winter Olympic Games (biathlon)The title biathlon is measured by.Every 4 years · Holder: France 6 golds of the 11, Norway 3
- 2IBU World ChampionshipsThe sport's own world title.Yearly, except Olympic years · Holder: France 6 golds of the 12, Norway 4
- 3IBU World CupThe season-long series; the overall winner takes the crystal globe.Yearly · Holder: 2025–26: nine stages
- 4Asian Winter Games (biathlon)Asia's winter multi-sport title.About every 4 years; next Almaty 2029 · Holder: Harbin 2025, four events: Kazakhstan
Countries to know
India and the nations that have done best, biggest titles first.
- NorwayBiathlon at the Olympic Games: 25 golds, 23 silvers, 19 bronzes (latest 2026); IBU World Championships: 97 golds, 85 silvers, 75 bronzes (latest 2025)
- GermanyBiathlon at the Olympic Games: 21 golds, 20 silvers, 14 bronzes (latest 2026); IBU World Championships: 65 golds, 56 silvers, 41 bronzes (latest 2025)
- FranceBiathlon at the Olympic Games: 19 golds, 12 silvers, 14 bronzes (latest 2026); IBU World Championships: 51 golds, 40 silvers, 52 bronzes (latest 2025)
- Soviet UnionBiathlon at the Olympic Games: 9 golds, 5 silvers, 5 bronzes (latest 1988); IBU World Championships: 44 golds, 29 silvers, 21 bronzes (latest 1991)
- RussiaBiathlon at the Olympic Games: 8 golds, 6 silvers, 10 bronzes (latest 2022); IBU World Championships: 28 golds, 39 silvers, 29 bronzes (latest 2021)
Who runs it
| Rules made by | International Biathlon Union (IBU), Event and Competition Rules, version 2026 |
| International federation | International Biathlon Union (IBU) |
| In India | No Indian body found. |
Where and when it is played
On a ski course with a shooting range; prone shooters must hit a 45 mm circle and standing shooters a 115 mm circle. The big events: the Winter Olympic Games every four years, the IBU World Championships every year except Olympic years and the IBU World Cup every year.