Biathlon

Biathlon is the ultimate combination of physical stamina and strength, but also a capacity for concentration and considerable technical abilities. Originally a hunting technique that combined skiing with shooting, biathlon (from the Greek word meaning 'two tests') was also incorporated into military strategy in northern Europe.

The sport combines free cross country skiing with target shooting using a small calibre rifle from both a standing and prone position.. The athletes ski loops of the course, stopping each time to fire a prerequisite number of shots at the target. Participants incur either a time or distance penalty for missing a target depending on the event.

Australia and biathlon

Australia has been represented by four biathletes at the Olympic Games with Kerryn Rim (Pethybridge) the standout. Rim is the only Australian biathlete to compete at three Games in Albertville 1992, Lillehammer 1994 and Nagano 1998. Her best finishes were 21st in the 7.5km sprint and 8th in the 15km individual event in 1994.

The first representative was Andrew Paul, who competed in both the 10km and 20km at the Sarajevo Games in 1984 and the Calgary Games in 1988. His best result was placing 47th in the 20km at Sarajevo 1984.

His wife Sandra Paintin-Paul competed at Albertville 1992 and Lillehammer 1994 with a best result in 1994 placing 40th from a field of 69 in the 7.5km sprint.

For three Games Australia was not represented before Cameron Morton was selected to contest the 20km individual and 10km sprint in Torino. He finished 83rd and 82nd respectively. This was not Morton’s first Games experience as he coached Rim during her very successful Nagano campaign.

Two athletes are hoping to secure qualification for Vancouver 2010.

Competition Format

The sport features several distinct events across the sprint, pursuit, individual and relay. Competitors get five shots, either prone or standing, in each round of shooting to hit five targets. Target size varies depending on the shooting position - 11.5cm for standing and 4.5cm for prone. The distance between the shooting position and the target is 50 metres. Missed shots incur either time or distance penalties.

Sprint Competitions
Competitors start at 30-second intervals and ski three loops, interspersed with two bouts of shooting (prone — standing). For each missed target, the athlete must ski a 150-metre penalty loop immediately after shooting. The competitor with the fastest time is the winner.

Men ski three laps of a 3.3-kilometre loop for a total of 10 kilometres. Women ski three laps of a 2.5-kilometre loop for a total of 7.5 kilometres.

Pursuit Competitions
With a total of 60 athletes participating in the pursuit competition, the start order and intervals are based on the results of the sprint competition. The winner of the sprint competition starts first with the remaining competitors following in the order and time they finished behind the winner in the qualifying competition.

Competitors ski five loops, interspersed with four bouts of shooting (prone — prone — standing — standing). For each missed target, the athlete must ski a 150-metre penalty loop immediately after shooting. The first competitor to cross the finish line is the winner. If competitors are lapped in the
competition, they must withdraw immediately.

Men ski five laps of a 2.5-kilometre loop for a total of 12.5 kilometres. Women ski five laps of a 2-kilometre loop for a total of 10 kilometres.

Individual Competitions
Competitors start at 30-second intervals and ski five loops, interspersed with four bouts of shooting (prone — standing — prone — standing). For each missed target, a one-minute penalty is added to the competitor’s time. The competitor with the fastest time, including penalties, is the winner.
Men ski five laps of a 4-kilometre loop for a total of 20 kilometres. Women ski five laps of a 3-kilometre loop for a total of 15 kilometres.

Mass Start Competitions
The total number of athletes participating in the mass start is 30 — all beginning simultaneously.
Competitors ski five loops, interspersed with four bouts of shooting (prone — prone — standing — standing). For each missed target, the athlete must ski a 150-metre penalty loop immediately after shooting. The first competitor to cross the finish line is the winner. If competitors are lapped in the
competition, they must withdraw immediately.

Men ski five laps of a 3-kilometre loop for a total of 15 kilometres. Women ski five laps of a 2.5-kilometre loop for a total of 12.5 kilometres.

Relay Competitions
There are four members per team and each team’s lead racer begins at the same time. Team members each ski three loops, interspersed with two bouts of shooting (prone — standing) at five targets, then
tag the next team member. Any team member who misses a target may use up to three spare rounds which much be loaded individually, by hand, after the five rounds have been shot. If there are still misses after all eight rounds, the team member must then ski a 150-metre penalty loop for each missed target.

The team whose final skier is the first to cross the finish line is the winner, subject to any penalties for rule violations or other time adjustments.

Men ski three laps of a 2.5-kilometre loop for a total of 7.5 kilometres each. Women ski three laps of a 2-kilometre loop for a total of 6 kilometres each.

Scoring

The scoring system for shooting consists of the electronic target scoring device and two separate observations by range officials. There is a time penalty of one minute for each missed target in the individual competition. For each missed target in sprint, pursuit, mass start or relay competitions, competitors must ski a 150-metre penalty loop immediately after shooting.

Lapped competitors are placed in the results as did not finish (DNF). In individual and sprint competitions, the athlete with the fastest time, including any time penalties or penalty loops,
is the winner.

If two or more competitors in an individual or sprint competition have the same finishing time, they are placed equally in the results. In pursuit, mass start and relay competitions, the first competitor or team across the finish line is the winner. There are no ties in pursuit, mass start and relay competitions — in
these, a photo-finish camera determines the finishing order. The decision is based on the front tip of the first foot crossing the finish line.