Winter Olympics preview: Biathlon
History
The Olympic ideology, pioneered on the principles of mirroring and glamorizing basic human survival skills, is illustrated most appropriately at the Winter Games by the sport of biathlon. Introduced at the 1960 Games in Squaw Valley, Calif., the biathlon, or “two tests,” combines the endurance and power of cross-country skiing, with the precision of target shooting. The military-style sport was made popular by the Red Army in the 1920’s, where it was considered a marquee event at Soviet Union Spartakiads. At the Winter Games, the biathlon has since evolved into 11 events, with the Mixed Relay to be introduced in Sochi. Despite the sport’s Olympic debut 32 years prior, women were not included until the 1992 Games in Albertville, France.
Events
Men’s and women’s Sprint, Pursuit, Mass Start, Individual, Relay, and Mixed Relay.
Venue: Laura Biathlon & Ski Complex
Located 38 miles (61 km) inland, the Laura Biathlon & Ski Complex is located north of the Sochi Mountain Cluster in the resort town of Krasnaya Polyana. The venue, amid a turbulent waterfall-channelled mountain river, includes two stadia, two track systems, and holds 7500 spectators. The river’s name is derived from the legend of Laura, a young woman who leapt into the unsettled waters after being forced to marry a Prince she didn’t love. As myth would have it, the Prince, consumed by heartbreak, jumped in after his bride.
The Top Story
In the ultimate act of family, biathlete Tracy Barnes withdrew from the United States Olympic roster so her sister, Lanny, could compete at her third Games. Lanny Barnes slid out of contention after missing three of the last four qualifying races due to illness, but after her sister snatched the last roster spot, Tracy forfeited the honor to someone she believed was more deserving. The sisters from Durango, Colo. both competed at the 2006 Games in Turin - Tracy’s first and only Olympic experience.
Five Names to Remember
Emil Hegle Svendsen (Norway) - Sprint, Pursuit*, Individual, Mass Start, Relay, Mixed Relay: Winner of eleven World Championship golds and the defending 20km Individual Olympic champion, Svendsen will be the face of a Norwegian team primed to dominate in Sochi.
Martin Fourcade (France) - Sprint, Pursuit*, Individual, Mass Start, Relay, Mixed Relay: Five-time medallist at the 2013 World Championships, Fourcade will be a threat to find the podium in each event, and will serve as Svendsen’s greatest adversary.
Tora Berger (Norway) - Sprint, Pursuit*, Individual, Mass Start, Relay, Mixed Relay: Berger won the World Cup grand slam in 2013 and is the defending 15km Individual champion from 2010. Entering her third Olympics, the decorated Norwegian icon says she has one final goal to achieve.
Tim Burke (United States) - Sprint, Pursuit*, Individual, Mass Start, Relay: Silver medal winner at the 2013 World Championships, Burke has a legitimate chance to become the first American to win an Olympic medal in biathlon.
Ole Enar Bjørndalen (Norway) - Sprint, Pursuit*, Individual, Mass Start, Relay: With 93 World Cup wins, 19 World Championships, and five Olympic golds, Bjørndalen, 40, is the most decorated biathlete in the sport’s history.
Three Terms You Need To Know
The “Zero Club”, Shoot Clean: Founded by the International Biathlon Union, the “Zero Club” denotes any athlete who won a gold medal at either the Olympic Games or World Championships by “shooting clean” (without a single miss).
Clicks: Slight adjustments of the rear aperture for wind and light conditions made by the athlete. The aperture's screws click as they are turned, so biathletes use the sound to help determine their sight, and ultimately, their accuracy.
Bolt Action: The .22 calibre rifles used are based on the bolt action mechanism, where the breech (or barrel) is manually opened by unlocking a bolt. Once it opens, the used cartridge is ejected, the firing pin is cocked, and a new round of ammunition slides into the chamber automatically, ready to be fired.
Previews for each individual event below.