Competition Formats
Biathlon consists of multiple formats, highlighting biathlete's ski prowess and shooting skills to create an exciting, fast-paced experience for both the competitors and fans.
MAIN DISCIPLINES
Sprint
- Distance:
- Men 10km, Women 7.5km
- Skiing:
- 3 loops
- Shooting:
- 1 prone, 1 standing
- Penalties:
- 150 meter ski for each miss
Sprint competitions for men (10 km) and women (7.5 km) are conducted each week during the World Cup season and in all Championships. Competitors start individually at 30-second intervals, followed by three ski loops with a five-shot prone bout after the first, a five-shot standing bout after the second and one final ski loop to the finish. For each missed target, the competitor skis a 150-meter penalty loop immediately after the shooting bout. The clock runs uninterrupted from start to finish; the fastest overall time determines the winner.
Pursuit
- Distance:
- Men 12.5km, Women 10km
- Skiing:
- 5 loops
- Shooting:
- 2 prone, 2 standing
- Penalties:
- 150 meter ski for each miss
The top 60 sprint finishers determine the pursuit field and start order. Starters leave the gate from one to sixty the number of seconds behind based on their time behind the sprint winner. The pursuit competition for men (12.5 km) and women (10 km) consists of five ski loops with a five-shot prone bout after the first and second, a five-shot standing bout after the third and fourth, and one final ski loop to the finish. For each missed target, the competitor skis a 150-meter penalty loop immediately after the shooting bout. The clock runs uninterrupted from start to finish. The winner is the first person to cross the finish line, regardless of start position.
Individual
- Distance:
- Men 20km, Women 15km
- Skiing:
- 5 loops
- Shooting:
- 2 prone, 2 standing
- Penalties:
- 1 minute for each miss
Individual competitions are the most challenging biathlon format featuring the longest ski distances for men (20 km) and women (15 km) and four alternating shooting bouts. Starters leave the gate individually at 30-second intervals. Shooting accurately is crucial with time penalties added to the finish time for each missed shot. An individual competition consists of five ski loops with a five-shot prone bout after the first and third, a five-shot standing bout after the second and fourth, and one final ski loop to the finish. For each missed target, one-minute is added to the total time. The clock for each competitor runs uninterrupted from start to finish; the results are based on the athlete's total time including added penalty minutes.
The short individual competition is a scaled-down version (men 15 km, women 12.5 km) of the traditional individual with the same format, but 45-second time penalties for each missed target.
Relay
- Distance:
- Men 4x7.5km, Women 4x6km
- Skiing:
- 3 loops for each leg
- Shooting:
- 1 prone, 1 standing for each leg
- Penalties:
- 150 meter ski for each miss
Relays feature 4-person single-sex teams (Men 4 X 7.5 km, Women 4 X 6 km). After a mass start, each leg consists of three ski loops with a five-shot prone bout after the first, a five-shot standing bout after the second, one final ski loop, and then tagging the next runner in a designated handover zone. Each competitor is allowed three spare (extra) bullets to close their five targets in both prone and standing. For any remaining missed targets, the competitor skis a 150-meter penalty loop immediately after the shooting bout. The clock runs uninterrupted from start to finish. The first team across the finish line is the winner.
The mixed relay is conducted exactly like the gender-specific relays, but with national federation two men/two women teams. The distances (Men 2 X 7.5 km, Women 2 X 6 km), shooting bouts, and penalties are the same as regular relays.
Mass Start
- Distance:
- Men 15km, Women 12.5km
- Skiing:
- 5 loops
- Shooting:
- 2 prone, 2 standing
- Penalties:
- 150 meter ski for each miss
The mass start is a head-to-head battle of 30 athletes, consisting of the top 25 in the current World Cup Total Score plus the top competitors from the current week's competitions. There are some modifications that determine the 30 competitors at the IBU World Championships and Olympic Winter Games. The mass start (15 km Men, 12.5 km Women) consists of five ski loops with a five-shot prone bout after the first and second, a five-shot standing bout after the third and fourth, and one final ski loop to the finish. For each missed target, the competitor skis a 150-meter penalty loop immediately after the shooting bout. The clock runs uninterrupted from start to finish. The winner is the first person to cross the finish line.
OTHER DISCIPLINES
Single Mixed Relay
- Distance:
- Men 2x7.5km, Women 2x6km
- Skiing:
- 2 loops per competitor
- Shooting:
- 1 prone, 1 standing
- Penalties:
- 75 meter ski for each miss
The single mixed relay features one man and one women who alternate over four legs in a short competition, action-packed competition. After a mass start, each competitor skis two loops, with a five-shot prone bout after the first, a five-shot standing bout after the second, after which they tag their partner. After the final leg standing bout, the anchor leg runs a final loop to the finish line. Each competitor is allowed three spare (extra) bullets to close their five targets in both prone and standing. For any remaining missed targets, the competitor skis a 75-meter penalty loop immediately after the shooting bout. The clock runs uninterrupted from start to finish. The first team across the finish line is the winner.
Super Sprint
- Distance:
- Men 7.5km, Women 7.5km
- Skiing:
- 5 loops
- Shooting:
- 2 prone, 2 standing
- Penalties:
- 75 meter ski for each miss
The super sprint is a hybrid, extremely fast, short competition. It features a qualification round, followed by a mass start-type final for the top 30 qualifiers. The final distance is 7.5 km for men and women, consisting of five ski loops with a five-shot prone bout after the first and second, a five-shot standing bout after the third and fourth, and one final ski loop to the finish. For each missed target, the competitor skis a 75-meter penalty loop immediately after the shooting bout. The clock runs uninterrupted from start to finish. The winner is the first person to cross the finish line.
Mass Start 60
- Distance:
- Men 15km, Women 12km
- Skiing:
- 6 loops
- Shooting:
- 2 prone, 2 standing
- Penalties:
- 150 meter ski for each miss
The mass start 60 is an expanded version of the normal mass start, used in the IBU Cup and IBU Junior Cup. The mass start 60 (15 km Men, 12.0 km Women) consists of six ski loops (different first loops before the first shooting bout followed by with a five-shot prone bout after the second and third, a five-shot standing bout after the fourth and fifth, and one final ski loop to the finish. For each missed target, the competitor skis a 150-meter penalty loop immediately after the shooting bout. The clock runs uninterrupted from start to finish. The winner is the first person to cross the finish line.