Rules
Biathlon involves athletes skiing over specific distances with shooting targets set up at intervals. Competitors shoot with small-caliber rifles in prone and standing positions. If an athlete misses a target, they are penalized with added seconds, penalty laps, or additional shooting, depending on the discipline. The winner is the athlete with the shortest total time.
Skiing is performed with skis and poles using a freestyle technique. The ski length, depending on the athlete’s height, must not be shorter than their height minus 4 cm. During the race, athletes carry a rifle on their back, weighing 3.5 kg. The ammunition used is .22LR caliber, with manual reloading. Shooting targets are placed 50 meters (164 feet) away.
At each shooting station, there are exactly five circular targets, and the shooting sequence is optional. Targets are smaller when shooting in the prone position, with a diameter of 45 mm (1.7 inches), while standing targets are larger, with a diameter of 115 mm (4.5 inches).
Disciplines
Sprint
The sprint race is 10 km long for men and 7.5 km for women. The race includes two shooting rounds, each with five targets, making a total of ten targets in the entire race. The first shooting round is in the prone position, and the second is in the standing position. Every missed target results in a penalty lap of 150 meters. Competitors start individually at 30-second intervals from the starting line. The number of participants depends on the number of entries. The winner is the athlete with the best, i.e., the shortest time.
Pursuit
The pursuit starts with competitors according to their ranking and time differences from the previous race, usually the sprint. The course is 12.5 km for men and 10 km for women. Shooting occurs four times, each with five targets. The first two shootings are in the prone position, and the last two are in the standing position. Every missed target results in a penalty lap of 150 meters. A total of 60 top-ranked athletes from the previous sprint race participate. The winner is the first to cross the finish line.
Individual
The individual race is 20 km for men and 15 km for women. The course is interspersed with four shooting rounds, each with five targets, alternating between prone and standing positions. Each missed target results in a 60-second time penalty added to the overall time. Competitors start at 30-second intervals. The winner is the athlete with the shortest time at the finish line.
Mass Start
All competitors start simultaneously, with the top 30 based on overall rankings participating. The course is 15 km for men and 12.5 km for women. There are four shooting rounds in total, with the first two in the prone position and the last two in the standing position. Every missed target results in a penalty lap of 150 meters. The winner is the first athlete to cross the finish line.
Relay
The relay is a team event consisting of four members. The course is 4×7.5 km for men and 4×6 km for women. Each athlete stops twice to shoot at five targets, once in the prone position and once in the standing position, making a total of eight shootings for the entire team. For each shooting round, athletes have three additional bullets to manually load if they miss any targets. If the athlete still fails to hit all targets, a 150-meter penalty lap is applied. All teams start simultaneously, and team member exchanges occur by tagging within a 50-meter exchange zone.
Mixed Relay
The mixed relay team consists of two men and two women. The women start first. The rules are identical to the regular relay, except for the course length: men cover 7.5 km, and women cover 6 km. The winner is the team that crosses the finish line first.
Biathlon Tracks
Biathlon tracks must have varied terrain, including flat sections, ascents, and descents. The maximum altitude of the track must not exceed 1,800 meters. Tracks must be at least 6 meters wide, with varying lengths, and are circular. The shooting range is located in the center, with targets placed 50 meters away.
