Which Winter Olympic sport combines cross-country skiing and rifle shooting? The answer is biathlon.
Biathlon grew from military skiing traditions in Scandinavia, where soldiers trained to ski across snowy terrain while carrying and using rifles. It became an Olympic sport at the 1960 Winter Games in Squaw Valley, California, after earlier military patrol events had appeared as demonstrations.
Modern biathlon races require athletes to alternate between fast cross-country skiing and precision shooting. Competitors fire at five targets from both standing and prone positions. Missing a target usually means skiing a penalty loop or adding penalty time, depending on the event format.
Biathlon is often confused with Nordic combined, which also includes cross-country skiing. Nordic combined pairs ski jumping with cross-country skiing and does not involve firearms. Biathlon's unusual combination of endurance and accuracy is what makes it distinctive. The sport includes sprint, pursuit, individual, mass-start and relay events, with separate men's and women's competitions.