Biathlon combines two sports – cross-country skiing and shooting – into one race. The biathlon first made its debut 66 years ago in the 1960 Winter Olympics at the renamed Palisades Tahoe in Olympic Valley near Lake Tahoe. This year, the Winter Olympic biathlon games will be held in Antholz (Anterselva), Italy.

Here is how the Biathlon works, including its rules, scoring and history in the Olympics.

Here's is the full Olympic biathlon schedule for the 2026 Winter Games

Here's what to know on when biathlon begins at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, including a look at its full schedule for the Winter Games.

Olympic biathletes shoot at targets using .22-caliber rifles while racing on cross-country skis. Here’s a closer look at the combined sporting event. (Photo: AP)

ANTERSELVA, Italy (AP) — U.S. Biathlon head coach Armin Auchentaller learned to cross-country ski on the trails that weave through the thick forests lining the Antholz valley in Northern Italy. Before he was even born,

Biathlon is the only winter Olympic sport in which the U.S. has never medaled. But this year, the U.S. has the two standout biathletes and a coach who grew up on the doorstep of the Olympic venue.

Biathlon is back at the Winter Olympics. Here's a look at all the equipment that biathletes will use for Milan Cortina 2026: Olympic biathletes use the following equipment: