Q 01/05

Biathlon combines cross-country skiing with which other discipline?

A) Archery

B) Rifle shooting

C) Ski jumping

D) Pistol shooting

Answer · why

B) Rifle shooting

Rifle shooting: each missed target costs extra skiing or added time, so racers have only seconds to calm a pounding pulse before they fire.

Q 02/05

Biathlon grew out of which older team sport, an Olympic event in 1924?

A) Nordic combined

B) Military patrol

C) Ski orienteering

D) Skijoring

Answer · why

B) Military patrol

Military patrol: four-man army teams skied about 25 km carrying rifles and packs, and it came back to the Games three more times as a demonstration ev...

Q 03/05

How far away are the targets on a biathlon range?

A) 5 metres

B) 15 metres

C) 50 metres

D) 150 metres

Answer · why

C) 50 metres

50 metres: until 1978 the targets stood at 150 metres, and the earliest championships made athletes shoot from as far as 250.

Q 04/05

How many targets must a biathlete hit in each shooting bout?

A) Two

B) Five

C) Ten

D) Twenty

Answer · why

B) Five

Five: the number matches the rifle's magazine, which holds five rounds, so in most races there is exactly one bullet for each target.

Q 05/05

In which shooting position must a biathlete hit the smaller target zone, 45 mm rather than 115 mm?

A) Prone

B) Standing

C) Kneeling

D) Seated

Answer · why

A) Prone

Prone: lying down, the hit zone is less than half as wide as when standing, yet the black disc the athlete aims at is the same size in both positions.