Biathlon which is a Nordic winter sport is a part of the ongoing winter Olympics. It is a mix of cross country skiing and precision rifle target shooting. It is treated as a race where the contestant with the shortest total time wins. Depending on the competition, missed shots result in extra distance or time added to the contestant's total running distance or time.
The competitors race around a closed course carrying .22 Caliber Rifles on their back which weigh over 3.5 Kg. They stop at designated spots to shoot targets over 50 m away. The distance of the Biathlon races varies.
