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biathlon
[ bahy-ath-lon ]
noun
- a contest in which cross-country skiers, carrying rifles, shoot at targets at four stops along a 12.5-mile (20 km) course.
- an athletic contest comprising any two consecutive events.
biathlon
/ -lɒn; baɪˈæθlən /
noun
- sport a contest in which skiers with rifles shoot at four targets along a 20-kilometre (12.5-mile) cross-country course
Word History and Origins
Example Sentences
The world’s longest-running and most extravagant festival of contemporary art opens to the public on Saturday after a preview biathlon of fine art and financial profligacy that has grown more hectic than ever.
The biathlon worlds start Wednesday in the Czech Republic and will also be aired.
The Czechs are a nation of deer and wild boar hunters - not to mention biathlon fans.
Wax technicians play a critical role in biathlon, which combines cross-country skiing with precision-rifle shooting, preparing skis for the day’s snow conditions so racers glide over the trails with ease.
So, the next morning, I sought out Ms. Dunklee, who agreed to give me a few pointers on the biathlon shooting range in front of the touring center.
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More About Biathlon
What is the biathlon?
A biathlon is a sporting event that combines cross-country skiing with target shooting.
Biathlons are held on cross-country skiing courses with multiple target stops placed throughout the course. Participants compete to finish the course in the shortest time. There are different types of biathlons, including sprints, relays, individual events, and team biathlons.
Depending on the rules and the type of competition, missing a shot may add time to the competitor’s overall time or require them to take a lap before shooting again. Many events require the competitors to shoot from two different positions: from the ground (in a prone position) and standing. The size of the targets varies.
The biathlon is an event in the Winter Olympics and the Paralympic Winter Games.
The word biathlon can also be used to refer to any athletic competition that involves two consecutive events, but this use is less common.
A participant in a biathlon can be called a biathlete.
Example: The biathlon is a unique event requiring stamina and concentration.
Where does biathlon come from?
The first records of the word biathlon come from the 1950s. It is a combination of the prefix bi-, meaning “two,” and the Greek term âthlon, which means “prize” or “contest” and is also the basis of the words athlete and athletics. The word is modeled on the name of the decathlon, a multisport competition featuring 10 events.
The origins of the biathlon can be traced back to Scandinavia and the use of skis there for practical travel and transport, including during hunting. In the mid-1700s, the militaries of Scandinavian countries like Norway and Sweden held events that combined cross-country skiing and target shooting as a type of competition and skills display. When the sport debuted at the 1924 Winter Olympics as a demonstration event, it was called military patrol.
The biathlon was added to the Winter Olympics as a full event in 1960. A women’s biathlon event was introduced in 1992.
Did you know ... ?
What are some other forms related to biathlon?
- biathlete (noun)
What are some words that share a root or word element with biathlon?
What are some words that often get used in discussing biathlon?
How is biathlon used in real life?
Biathlon is best known as an event in the Winter Olympics.
Congrats to the brilliant Swede that is Hanna Öberg! Olympic gold in 15 kilometres biathlon! The Swedish medals just keep piling up!
— Sweden.se (@swedense) February 15, 2018
HISTORY MADE!
Congratulations to @deedrablu for claiming #TeamUSA's best individual Olympic finish in biathlon. #WinterOlympics pic.twitter.com/TMgBGvUXZw
— Team USA (@TeamUSA) February 7, 2022
Norway takes Olympic gold in 3-way sprint in biathlon relay https://t.co/PrV3P0FY2q
— Toronto Star Sports (@StarSports) February 5, 2022
Try using biathlon!
True or False?
The event that became known as biathlon was once called military patrol.
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