2010 Biathlon - Men's Seating Chart

A biathlon typically refers to an event where athletes compete against each other in two different sports in a single competition.

In the Olympic sense, a biathlon refers to an event featuring both cross-country skiing and rifling.

Interestingly enough, the sport got its start as a military exercise for Norwegian soldiers all the way back in the 1800's.

The first World Championship was held back in 1958 and it did not become an Olympic sport until 1960.

In the event, competitors ski around a track while intermittenly stopping for various shooting rounds.

Athletes are then penalized by either time or distance for how poorly they do during the shooting round.

It is considered a race, therefore the athlete that finishes with the fastest time is declared the winner.

It's an intriguing event that I would encourage all to go see at least once. Imagine the concentration and endurance it takes to shoot accurately after skiing hard around a track a bunch of times.