With theWinter Olympicsrapidly approaching, the question of what is a biathlon is a pretty common one.
The answer is simple: Its a sporting event that combines skiing and shooting.
But theres also a bit more to it than that.
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At its most basic level, a biathlon includes two events.
According to theInternational Olympic Committee (IOC), it comes from the Greek word meaning two tests.
In current Winter Games competitions, the biathlon refers specifically to cross-country skiing and rifle shooting.
If that seems like quite the combination, well, you arent wrong.
Keep on reading for everything you should probably know about the eccentric sports combination that is the biathlon.
What is a biathlon?
In the 2022 Winter Olympics, theres also a mixed-team relay event, totaling 11 biathlon events overall.
Athletes must have solid physiological control to switch between the two sports as quickly as possible.
to get to shoot accurately, athletes must stabilize their bodies and breathing after the high-aerobic skiing segments.
How do you win at biathlon?
Biathlon is a timed event where the quickest finish means victory.
Unlike a typical race, though, its not all about being fast: Accuracy matters as well.
The person with the quickest time wins.
Whats the difference between winter biathlon and summer biathlon?
According toTeam USA, summer biathlon combines rifle marksmanship withrunningor roller skating.
What is biathlon in the Paralympics?
(In the Paralympics, both biathlon and cross-country skiing fall under the umbrella of Nordic skiing.)
Total distance ranges from 6K to 15K, and races include two to four shooting rounds.
Athletes with visual impairments wear headphones that use acoustic signals to center their rifle at the target.
When did biathlon become an Olympic sport?
Womens biathlon joined the schedule in 1992.
