One of the most interesting sports to take place in the Winter Olympics is back once again.
Biathlon made its debut at the 1960 Winter Olympics in Squaw Valley, California, and has been part of every Winter Olympics since.
As athletes follow a ski course interrupted by frequent stops to shoot at a series of targets, biathlon proves to be one of the most challenging, yet thrilling winter Olympic events.
At the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Games, 33 medals were awarded in 11 different nations, and this year there are also 33 medals up for grabs, with 11 events in total – five for men and women, plus one event per mixed teams.
All biathlon events will be held at the National Biathlon Center in the Zhangjiakou Competition Area for 14 days. It is one of three new venues that have been built in the Guyangshu Group and it has a capacity of 6,000 spectators.
Here’s how you can watch all the biathlon action at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, along with streaming news, Team USA outlook and other athletes to watch:
What is the biathlon program at the 2022 Winter Olympics?
The biathlon begins in Beijing with the mixed 4 x 6 km. relay competition on February 5. The other events will take place from February 7 to 16.
Here is the complete event and streaming information for biathlon in Beijing:
| Date hour | Event | Network/Stream |
|---|---|---|
| Sat, 2/5 4:00 |
🏅 Mixed relay | UNITED STATES* | Peacock, NBCOlympics.com |
| Mon, 2/7 4:00 |
🏅 15 km individual women | UNITED STATES* | Peacock, NBCOlympics.com |
| Tue, 2/8 3h30 |
🏅 20 km Individual Men | United States | Peacock, NBCOlympics.com |
| Fri 2/11 4:00 |
🏅 Women’s 7.5km sprint | UNITED STATES* | Peacock, NBCOlympics.com |
| Sat. 2/12 4:00 |
🏅 Men’s 10km Sprint | United States | Peacock, NBCOlympics.com |
| Sun, 2/13 4:00 |
🏅 F/M 10km/12.5km Pursuits | United States/* | Peacock, NBCOlympics.com |
| Tue 02/15 4:00 |
🏅 Men’s 4×7.5 km relay | UNITED STATES* | Peacock, NBCOlympics.com |
| Wed 02/16 2:45a |
🏅 Women’s 4x6km Relay | UNITED STATES* | Peacock, NBCOlympics.com |
| Fri 02/18 4:00 |
🏅 15 km mass start men | UNITED STATES* | Peacock, NBCOlympics.com |
| Sat. 02/19 4:00 |
🏅 12.5 km mass start women | United States | Peacock, NBCOlympics.com |
Who are the top biathlon athletes at the 2022 Winter Olympics?
Ole Einar Bjørndalen of Norway is not only the most successful biathlete in Winter Olympics history, but he is also the most successful male athlete in Winter Olympics history. With 13 medals, the “king of biathlon” is one of three winter Olympians (and the only biathlete) to win eight gold medals.
On the women’s side, Norwegian biathlete Tiril Eckhoff has the most Olympic medals in biathlon of any active female athlete. Eckhoff holds five medals (one gold, one silver, three bronze) and will be one of the favorites to add to that record as she competes at her third Winter Olympics in Beijing.
The men will have a better chance of winning a medal since Martin Fourcade of France will not be competing at this year’s Games. The three-time PyeongChang gold medalist (and five-time Olympic champion) has announced his retirement from the sport in 2020.
Slovak Anastasiya Kuzmina will also not compete in Beijing after ending her career as a biathlete in 2019. She is the first biathlete to win gold at three consecutive Olympics (Vancouver 2010, Sochi 2014 and Pyeongchang 2018).
Who won gold in biathlon at the 2018 Winter Olympics?
Germany and France both came away with three gold medals, each at the PyeongChang 2018 Games, followed by Sweden who won two gold medals.
Norway, Slovakia and Belarus combined for the three remaining gold medals that year.
Who is competing in the biathlon for Team USA at the 2022 Winter Olympics?
The United States has won a medal in every winter Olympic sport except one: biathlon. Americans like Lowell Bailey, who won a world title in 2017 and came one shot away from winning an Olympic medal in 2014, came close to winning. In Beijing, Team USA will be looking to make history and step onto the podium, winning their first medal in the sport.
Susan Dunklee, Clare Egan, Jake Brown, Sean Doherty and Paul Schommer will all compete for Team USA.
Which country has the most medals in biathlon?
Germany leads all countries in the total number of medals (52) and gold medals (19) for biathlon. Close behind, Norway is second with 41 medals in total and 16 gold medals.
Russia is in third place with 23 medals overall and 10 gold medals.
