How a biathlon race works

1. Biathletes ski a course carrying a small rifle, and stop at a range to shoot at five targets 50 metres away.
2. They shoot either lying down (prone) or standing. A hit turns the black target white.
3. Every target missed costs time: a 150-metre penalty loop to ski in most races, or a minute added to the time in the individual race.
4. The fastest overall wins. In the sprint that means the best time; in the pursuit skiers start in the order and gaps of the sprint, so the first across the finish line wins.

How long

The sprint is 10 km for men and 7.5 km for women, with one prone and one standing bout of shooting.