Biathlon combines cross-country skiing with rifle marksmanship and is the most popular winter sport in Europe, with tens of millions of viewers each week tuning in for World Cup competitions.
Biathletes ski as fast as they can, then try to calm down quickly to hit a target the size of a half dollar 50 meters away from a prone position and one the size of a coffee cup saucer from a standing position. For every miss, they have to ski a 150-meter penalty loop, costing them valuable time at the finish line.
With the biathletes gasping for air, the targets at 50 meters not only look tiny but they're blurry and bouncing around.
Many factors can affect the sport, which is always held during daylight hours. Snowfall can slow the course. So can sunshine. Either extreme makes for a much harder race. The best case is for the snow to freeze overnight and stay that way until the races are finished in the early afternoon.
No American biathlete, male or female, has ever won an Olympic medal. The United States is simply behind the curve in a sport long dominated by the Norwegians, French, Germans and Russians. You need strength and endurance, you have to be Lance Armstrong and Babe Ruth, and so far the Americans haven't found that combination for a biathlon breakthrough.
