biathlon

noun

bi·​ath·​lon bī-ˈath-lən 

-ˌlän

: a composite athletic contest consisting of cross-country skiing and rifle sharpshooting

Did you know?

A winter sports event, the biathlon combines cross-country skiing with rifle sharpshooting. It originated in Scandinavian hunting. It was first included in the Winter Olympics program in 1960. Competitors cover a 20-km (12.5-mile) course, carrying a rifle and ammunition. They stop at four points to fire five shots at small targets. Relay and 10-km events were added in 1968 and 1980 respectively.

Examples of biathlon in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Masters would go on to compete in rowing, cross-country skiing, biathlon, and cycling, winning medals across both Summer and Winter Paralympic Games. — Tim Genske, Forbes.com, 10 Mar. 2026

The sport was introduced for athletes with physical disabilities at the 1988 Innsbruck Paralympic Games and for athletes with visual disabilities in 1992 at Albertville. — ABC News, 6 Mar. 2026

Toyota supported Andrea Eskau, the German Paralympic skier who won gold in the 6km biathlon and silver in the 5km cross-country at the 2014 Sochi Games, at age 42. — Liam Tharme, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026

Zaino will also compete in the biathlon (skiing and shooting). — Lori Riley, Hartford Courant, 3 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

bi- entry 1 + -athlon (as in decathlon)

First Known Use

1956, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for biathlon

• triathlon