Biathlon is a sport that captures the attention and imagination of everyone who sees it. In so many ways, it is a classic Olympic endeavor - combining the most physically demanding sport of cross-country skiing with the intense precision of rifle marksmanship. These opposing disciplines collide at the shooting range. With their hearts pounding nearly three times a second, the athletes struggle to control their breathing as they shoot, knowing that every shot and the number of seconds it takes to make it, will determine who stands on the podium that day. It is this drama, combined with wonderful visual images of the competitors, which has lead biathlon to be the top rated winter sport on European TV.

US Biathletes are well respected and have been producing strong results in Europe. Tim Burke had two top 10 finishes at the World Championships in 2008 and our Junior Team is among the strongest in the world with numerous medals at World Junior Championships and European Cup, including Leif Nordgren's medal at 2008 Youth World Championship, the first for an American.

Other Biathlon Disciplines: Summer biathlon combines rifle marksmanship and running and has a large following in the USA. Though not yet an Olympic sport, World Championships are held every year. There are also national championships and a series of over twenty competitions throughout the USA.

Further information:
Competition Descriptions - Terminology - Historical Timeline
Rules - IBU Handbook in PDF format
Related sites:
- International Biathlon Union