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.

French biathlon star Julia Simon earned gold at the 2026 Winter Olympics following her six-month ban for alleged credit card fraud. “I think we’ll all be relieved she can leave her wallet at home,” commentator Matt Iseman joked on Sunday,

See who's behind the mic for biathlon at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

France dominated the second half of the mixed relay biathlon race at the Milan Cortina Olympics with fast skiing and strong shooting to take gold ahead of Italy and Germany.

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)

The French biathlon team raced to gold in the mixed 4x6km relay Sunday at the Olympics, with host nation Italy chasing down the gap for a silver on home turf.

Julia Simon hit all 10 of her shots as she stormed through the final leg to secure gold for favourites France in a thrilling biathlon mixed relay on Sunday, setting the scene for the 10 medal races to come at the Milano Cortina Games.

Hometown hero Dorotea Wierer did her part in delivering a silver medal in Sunday's mixed relay that lifted the hearts of biathlon fans in northern Italy, heralding her second place as if she had won gold.

Biathlon begins Sunday with the mixed relay event. It will set the tone for the ten following events in Milan Cortina and Team Italy's hopes for a biathlon medal.