Biathlon << by ATH lon >> is a winter sport that combines cross-country ski racing and rifle marksmanship. Competitors, while carrying a rifle on their back, ski over a course consisting of loops of various lengths. The loops return to a 50-meter shooting range. There, competitors fire at five targets, first from the prone (lying down) position and, after skiing another loop, from the standing position. Biathlon events include individual, sprint, pursuit, and relay races. The individual or team to complete the course in the fastest time wins. In individual events, the course is 20 kilometers (12.4 miles) for men and 15 kilometers (9.32 miles) for women. The sprint distances are 7.5 kilometers (4.66 miles) for women and 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) for men. The pursuit distances are 10 kilometers for women and 12.5 kilometers (7.77 miles) for men. Four people each ski 7.5 kilometers in a relay. Extra time or distance is added as a penalty for missed targets.
