By MARTHA BELLISLE
Blending the rigorous demands of cross-country skiing with the precision of rifle shooting, biathlon offers a unique spectacle that captivates audiences with its blend of athletic prowess and sharpshooting skill. As the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics approaches, here’s an overview of what to expect from this thrilling event.
Understanding the Sport
Biathlon is often compared to an athlete climbing 20 flights of stairs and then attempting to thread a needle. The sport challenges competitors with strenuous skiing that taxes the body and lungs, paired with the need for intense concentration during the shooting segments. Competitors carry a .22-caliber rifle and navigate ski trails ranging from 1.5 to 3.5 kilometers (0.9 to 2.2 miles) long, depending on the race format. In the shooting range, they must hit five targets 50 meters (55 yards) away, first from a prone position at golf ball-sized targets, followed by standing shots at targets the size of a compact disc. Accuracy is crucial, as each missed shot results in a 150-meter penalty loop or a time penalty. The competitor with the fastest time claims victory.
Athletes to Watch
Despite the retirement of biathlon legend Johannes Thingnes Boe, Norway boasts a strong men’s team with Sturla Holm Laegreid, the reigning World Cup champion, and Johan-Olav Botn, who has quickly risen in the rankings this season. Meanwhile, France presents strong contenders such as up-and-coming Eric Perrot and seasoned competitor Quentin Fillon Maillet, who secured five medals, including two gold, at the Beijing Olympics.
On the women’s side, Germany’s Franziska Preuss narrowly defeated France’s Lou Jeanmonnot for last season’s World Cup title, making both athletes key contenders for medals at the Milan Cortina Games. The host nation Italy will look to Tommaso Giacomel and former World Cup champions Lisa Vitozzi and Dorothea Wierer for strong performances, with Wierer competing on her home track before retiring.
The United States has yet to secure an Olympic medal in biathlon. However, 23-year-old Campbell Wright is viewed as a promising contender, having clinched two silver medals at last year’s World Championships.
Event Details
The scenic village of Anterselva, situated in the Dolomites at an elevation of 5,249 feet (1,600 meters), will host the 2026 Olympic biathlon events. As a regular stop on the World Cup circuit, this venue is well-known to athletes for its challenging trails and shooting range. The biathlon competition kicks off on February 8 with a mixed relay race and concludes with the women’s mass start on February 21.
Historic Highlights
Among the legends of biathlon is Norway’s Ole Einar Bjørndalen, who achieved a monumental feat in 2002 by winning gold in all four individual events at a single Winter Games. His wife, Darya Domracheva of Belarus, mirrored his success at the 2014 Sochi Olympics by capturing three individual gold medals.
France’s Martin Fourcade made his mark at the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics with three gold medals, including a nail-biting finish against Germany’s Simon Schempp in the mass start. More recently, Thingnes Boe clinched four gold medals at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, sharing the podium in the sprint with his brother, Tarjei Boe, who took bronze.
Interesting Trivia
In its early days, biathlon featured heavier, high-caliber military rifles and classic skiing techniques. The 1960s saw a shift to lighter, .22-caliber rifles. Regulations require biathlon rifles to weigh at least 3.5 kilograms (7.7 pounds), excluding magazines and ammunition. Before each race, biathletes have a 45-minute window to “zero” their rifle sights, accounting for the day’s wind conditions. Wind flags on the range inform them of wind strength, allowing for necessary adjustments during the race.
AP Winter Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics
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