How Much Do You Know About Biathlon?

A military-inspired Olympic event that combines cross-country skiing and target shooting, biathlon is among the most grueling of all sports. Take our 10-question quiz to find out just how much you know about biathlon.

1. True or false? Biathlon is a combination of cross-country skiing and pistol shooting.

2. What year was the first World Biathlon Championship held?
1. 1920
2. 1938
3. 1955
4. 1958

3. True or false? A precursor sport to biathlon called “military patrol” was a competitive event at the 1924 Chamonix Winter Olympic Games.

4. What year did the biathlon make its official Winter Olympics debut?
   1. 1928 St. Moritz
   2. 1932 Lake Placid
   3. 1960 Squaw Valley
   4. 1964 Innsbruck

5. Biathlon steel plate targets are placed at what distance?
   1. 20 meters
   2. 25 meters
   3. 40 meters
   4. 50 meters

6. Each biathlon prone target is ____ in diameter?
   1. 25 mm
   2. 45 mm
   3. 50 mm
   4. 115 mm

7. How many meters distance is a biathlon penalty loop?
   1. 50 meters
   2. 100 meters
   3. 150 meters
   4. 200 meters

8. With 52 in total, which nation currently holds the most Olympic biathlon medals?
   1. Germany
   2. Sweden
   3. France
   4. Russia

9. In what two shooting positions do biathlon shooters fire their rifles at targets?
   1. Sitting and kneeling
   2. Standing and kneeling
   3. Sitting and prone
   4. Standing and prone

10. True or false? The 2022 Winter Olympics biathlon program includes mixed relay events.

Answers

1. False
2. d. 1958
3. True
4. c. 1960 Squaw Valley
5. d. 50 meters
6. b. 45 mm
7. c. 150 meters
8. a. Germany
9. d. Standing and prone
10. True. The 4x6 km Mixed Relay event will be held on Saturday, February 5 at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.

Learn more about the history of biathlon competition.

Photo: A National Guard biathlete competing at the 2020 National Guard Biathlon Western Regionals, conducted at Soldier Hollow, Utah, in January 2020. There were more than 70 National Guard soldiers and airmen, representing nine states, that attended this winter competition. Photo courtesy Sgt. 1st Class Zachary Holden/National Guard.