WHAT ARE THE BIATHLON RULES?

Biathlon is a sporting discipline that combines cross-country skiing and rifle shooting. It is practiced over distances ranging from 7.5 km to 20 km for men, and from 6 km to 15 km for women. Biathlon competitions are very popular, particularly in Europe. But what are the rules behind this sport?

WHAT IS THE GENERAL BIATHLON RULE FOR WOMEN AND MEN?

There are many variations of this sport, but the general rule is as follows: athletes must ski a certain distance, then stop and shoot at a target with a compressed air rifle.

WHAT ARE THE FIVE DIFFERENT BIATHLON EVENT TYPES?

Biathlon is a winter sports event that consists of a cross-country skiing circuit and rifle shooting. Biathletes must perform a series of rifle shots at each turn of the circuit, and if they miss a shot, they must incur a race penalty. There are five biathlon event formats: sprint, pursuit, relay, individual, and mass start.

SUMMER BIATHLON VS WINTER BIATHLON: WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE?

Summer biathlon, unlike winter biathlon, consists of two disciplines: running and archery. Both sports are extremely physically demanding and require great precision from the athletes/biathletes.

HOW DOES SCORING WORK IN BIATHLON?

In biathlon, there are three types of races: sprint, pursuit, and relay. Points are awarded based on each competitor's finishing place. The first competitor to cross the finish line receives 60 points, the second 59 points, and so on down to the 60th who receives only 1 point.

WHAT'S A SPARE ROUND? WHAT'S THE SHOOTING DISTANCE?

A spare round is a bullet that biathletes can pick up on the cross-country course if they've missed a shooting target with their rifle. Athletes can pick up a spare round only once per missed shot, and must carry it with them until they reach the next shooting range. Both standing and prone shooting are done at a distance of 50 meters to hit the target.

MARTIN FOURCADE, OLE EINAR BJØRNDALEN: WHICH BIATHLON ATHLETES ARE KNOWN WORLD-WIDE?

Amongst men and women, Ole Einar Bjørndalen and Magdalena Neuner are probably the most famous biathlon athletes, known world-wide. Another biathlete known internationally is Frenchman, Martin Fourcade. He's a five-time Olympic champion, as well as a seven-time winner of the overall World Cup ranking, and also a thirteen-time world champion. What an accomplishment!

WHATS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BIATHLON AND TRIATHLON?

Unlike biathlon, triathlon is a sport that involves three different disciplines; combining swimming, cycling, and running.

À LIRE ÉGALEMENT

The benefits of cross-country skiing

Cross-country skiing, also known as Nordic skiing, can be enjoyed by people of all ages and abilities. Discover how this winter sport can benefit your physical and mental health!

Nutrition and diet strategies for cross-country skiers

Your race day performance will be impacted by what you eat before and during the race. Post-race nutrition is also an important part of your body's recovery. Follow our nutritionist's tips for optimal results.

How to choose your cross-country ski poles: What size do you need?

Before choosing your cross-country ski poles, there are a few key factors to consider – your physical fitness and level of skiing, the type of wrist strap and grip you need, the required stiffness of the shaft and your height.

Why yoga and cross-country skiing are a great match

Did you know your yoga practice can actually help you improve your cross-country skiing? The two activities have some skill and strength requirements in common that make them an ideal pair.