Biathlon at the Winter Olympics
Biathlon debuted at the 1960 Winter Olympics in Squaw Valley, California with the men's 20 km individual event. At the 1968 Winter Olympics in Grenoble, the men's 4 × 7.5 km relay debuted, followed by the 10 km sprint event at the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York. Beginning at the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville, women's biathlon debuted with the 15 km individual, 3 × 7.5 km relay (4 × 7.5 km during 1994-2002, and 4 × 6 km in 2006), and 7.5 km sprint. A pursuit race (12.5 km for men and 10 km for women) was included at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. The top 60 finishers of the sprint race (10 km for men and 7.5 km for women) would qualify for the pursuit event. The sprint winner starts the race, followed by each successive biathlete at the same time interval they trailed the sprint winner in that event. At the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, a mass start (15 km for men and 12.5 km for women) was introduced where the top 30 biathletes from the previous four events were allowed to start together for the competition.
| Biathlon at the Winter Olympics | |
|---|---|
 | |
| IOC Discipline Code | BTH |
| Governing body | IBU |
| Events | 11 (men: 5; women: 5; mixed: 1) |
| Games | |
| Note: demonstration or exhibition sport years indicated in italics | |
Military patrol
Prior to the biathlon debut at the 1960 Winter Olympics, there was a military patrol event that was held at four Winter Olympic Games: 1924, 1928, 1936, and 1948. Medals were awarded for military patrol in 1924, but it was a demonstration event for the other three Winter Games. The official website of the IOC now treats military patrol at the 1924 Games as a separate discipline, without mixing it with the sports of skiing or biathlon.[1][2] However, the 1924 Official Report treats it as an event within the sport of skiing.[3][4]
Military patrol is considered by the International Biathlon Union to be the precursor to biathlon.[5]
Summary
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
.svg.png.webp){kind=small}
Events
Men's
• = official event, (d) = demonstration event
| Event | 24 | 28 | 32 | 36 | 48 | 52 | 56 | 60 | 64 | 68 | 72 | 76 | 80 | 84 | 88 | 92 | 94 | 98 | 02 | 06 | 10 | 14 | 18 | 22 | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Military patrol | • | (d) | (d) | (d) | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| individual (20 km) | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | 17 | |||||||
| relay (4×7.5 km) | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | 15 | |||||||||
| sprint (10 km) | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | 12 | ||||||||||||
| pursuit (12.5 km) | • | • | • | • | • | • | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||
| mass start (15 km) | • | • | • | • | • | 5 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total events | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
Medal table
Sources (after the 2022 Winter Olympics):[8]
Accurate as of 2022 Winter Olympics and IOC Executive Board decision of May 19, 2022 to redistribute medals in the biathlon women's 4x6km event at the 2014 Winter Olympics.
| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Norway (NOR) | 22 | 18 | 15 | 55 |
| 2 |  Germany (GER) | 20 | 21 | 13 | 54 |
| 3 |  France (FRA) | 12 | 9 | 11 | 32 |
| 4 |  Russia (RUS) | 10 | 5 | 8 | 23 |
| 5 |  Soviet Union (URS) | 9 | 5 | 5 | 19 |
| 6 |  Sweden (SWE) | 6 | 6 | 6 | 18 |
| 7 |  Belarus (BLR) | 4 | 4 | 3 | 11 |
| 8 |  East Germany (GDR) | 3 | 4 | 4 | 11 |
| 9 |  Slovakia (SVK) | 3 | 3 | 1 | 7 |
| 10 |  Unified Team (EUN) | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
| 11 | .svg.png.webp){kind=small} Canada (CAN) | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| 12 | West Germany (FRG) | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 |
| 13 |  Ukraine (UKR) | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 |
| 14 |  Bulgaria (BUL) | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 15 |  Czech Republic (CZE) | 0 | 4 | 4 | 8 |
| 16 |  Finland (FIN) | 0 | 4 | 2 | 6 |
| 17 |  Austria (AUT) | 0 | 3 | 3 | 6 |
| 18 |  Italy (ITA) | 0 | 1 | 6 | 7 |
| 19 |  ROC | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| 20 |  Slovenia (SLO) | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 21 |  Kazakhstan (KAZ) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
 Poland (POL) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
 Switzerland (SUI) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| 24 |  Croatia (CRO) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Totals (24 entries) | 96 | 97 | 95 | 288 | |
- Notes
- This table does not include medals of 1924 military patrol event, that the IOC now treats as a separate discipline.
- 2 silver medals and no bronze were awarded at 2010 men's individual distance.
Number of biathletes by nation
| Nation | 24 | 28 | 32 | 36 | 48 | 52 | 56 | 60 | 64 | 68 | 72 | 76 | 80 | 84 | 88 | 92 | 94 | 98 | 02 | 06 | 10 | 14 | 18 | 22 | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Andorra (AND) | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
 Argentina (ARG) | 4 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 7 | |||||||||||||||||
 Australia (AUS) | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||
| Austria (AUT) | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 15 | |||||||||
| Belarus (BLR) | 11 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||
.svg.png.webp){kind=small} Belgium (BEL) | 2 | 5 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
 Brazil (BRA) | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
 Bosnia and Herzegovina (BIH) | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Bulgaria (BUL) | 2 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 10 | 8 | 13 | |||||||||||
| Canada (CAN) | 5 | 5 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 8 | 11 | |||||||||||||
 Chile (CHI) | 2 | 2 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
 China (CHN) | 5 | 5 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 8 | 11 | |||||||||||||
 Chinese Taipei (TPE) | 2 | 1 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
 Costa Rica (CRC) | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Croatia (CRO) | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Czech Republic (CZE) | 10 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||
 Denmark (DEN) | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
 Estonia (EST) | 8 | 9 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 9 | 9 | 6 | 8 | 9 | |||||||||||||||
| Finland (FIN) | 4 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 9 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 8 | 17 | |||||||
| France (FRA) | 4 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 7 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 17 | |||||||
| Germany (GER) | 10 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 11 | |||||||||||||||
 Great Britain (GBR) | 2 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 16 | ||||||||
 Greece (GRE) | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 7 | |||||||||||||||||
 Guam (GUM) | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
 Hungary (HUN) | 1 | 5 | 1 | 9 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 10 | ||||||||||||||
| Italy (ITA) | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 10 | 6 | 6 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 14 | ||||||||||
 Japan (JPN) | 2 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 16 | ||||||||
| Kazakhstan (KAZ) | 2 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 3 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||
 Kyrgyzstan (KGZ) | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||
 Latvia (LAT) | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 9 | 9 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 9 | |||||||||||||||
 Lithuania (LTU) | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 9 | |||||||||||||||
 Moldova (MDA) | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 7 | |||||||||||||||||
 Mongolia (MGL) | 4 | 2 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Norway (NOR) | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 17 | |||||||
 New Zealand (NZL) | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Poland (POL) | 4 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 5 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 7 | 5 | 13 | |||||||||||
 Puerto Rico (PUR) | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
 Romania (ROU) | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 14 | ||||||||||
| Russia (RUS) | 10 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||
 Serbia (SRB) | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Slovenia (SLO) | 5 | 6 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 9 | |||||||||||||||
| Slovakia (SVK) | 6 | 5 | 6 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 10 | 8 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||
 South Korea (KOR) | 1 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 3 | 10 | ||||||||||||||
 Spain (ESP) | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Switzerland (SUI) | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 13 | |||||||||||
| Sweden (SWE) | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 10 | 5 | 10 | 11 | 17 | |||||||
| Ukraine (UKR) | 10 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||
 United States (USA) | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 17 | |||||||
| NOCs no longer competing at the Winter Olympics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Czechoslovakia (TCH) | 2 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 7 | |||||||||||||||||
| East Germany (GDR) | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Olympic Athletes from Russia (OAR) | 4 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
.svg.png.webp){kind=small} Serbia and Montenegro (SCG) | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| ROC | 10 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Soviet Union (URS) | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||
| Unified Team (EUN) | 11 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
.svg.png.webp){kind=small} United Team of Germany (EUA) | 4 | 4 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| West Germany (FRG) | 4 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||
.svg.png.webp){kind=small} Yugoslavia (YUG) | 1 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Nations | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 9 | 14 | 16 | 14 | 18 | 18 | 25 | 22 | 28 | 32 | 32 | 34 | 37 | 37 | 36 | 28 | 30 | 56 |
| Biathletes | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 30 | 51 | 72 | 62 | 74 | 76 | 95 | 90 | 196 | 193 | 183 | 190 | 204 | 221 | 216 | 219 | 212 | 1583 |
| Year | 24 | 28 | 32 | 36 | 48 | 52 | 56 | 60 | 64 | 68 | 72 | 76 | 80 | 84 | 88 | 92 | 94 | 98 | 02 | 06 | 10 | 14 | 18 | 22 | |
See also
- List of Olympic venues in biathlon
- Biathlon rifle Anschütz 1827F
References
- "Chamonix 1924 Results". IOC. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
- "Chamonix 1924 Military Patrol Men Results". IOC. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
- Official Report (1924), p 646: Le Programme ... II. — Epreuves par équipes - 12. Ski : Course militaire (20 à 30 kilomètres, avec tir). (The Programme ... II. — Team events - 12. Skiing : Military Race (20 to 30 kilometres, with shooting)).
- Official Report (1924), p 664: CONCOURS DE SKI - Jurys - COURSE MILITAIRE. (Skiing Competitions - Juries - Military Race)
- "A Quick Look at Biathlon through the Years". International Biathlon Union - IBU. 2022-01-04. Retrieved 2023-06-28.
- The women's relay has been contested over three different distances: 3×7.5 km (1992), 4×7.5 km (1994-2002) and 4×6 km (2006-10)
- The mixed relay has been contested over two different distances: 2×6 km + 2×7.5 km (2014-18) and 4×6 km (2022)
- "Olympic Analytics - Medals by Countries". olympanalyt.com. Retrieved 2022-02-20.
External links
Media related to Biathlon at the Olympics at Wikimedia Commons
| Summer sports |
|
|---|---|
| Winter sports | |
| 2024 addition | |
| 2026 addition | |
| 2028 additions | |
| Past sports | |
| Demonstration sports | |
| Unofficial sports | |
