Para biathlon combines two winter sports where athletes compete across three classes - vision impairment, standing and sitting, alternating between skiing through a cross-country trail and shooting at targets.

 

The events include sprint, middle distance, pursuit and individual competitions and take place on a 2km or 2.5km course skied three or five times in the free technique for a total race distance between 7.5 to 12.5km. Between the skiing stages, athletes must stop in the shooting range and hit five targets located at a distance of 10m. For each missed target either a one-minute time penalty or a penalty loop has to be skied immediately after leaving the shooting range.

The winner is determined by the athlete who completes the competition with the fastest overall time. The most crucial success factor lies in alternating the skills of physical endurance and shooting accuracy during the competition.

Athletes with vision impairment are assisted by acoustic signals in shooting, which depending on signal intensity, indicate when the athlete is on target.
Para biathletes do not carry their rifles during the skiing stage but receive them in the biathlon range. Athletes with a physical impairment use personal rifles that are brought to the shooting mat by coaches when the athlete arrives at the range. Athletes with vision impairment use standardised rifles that remain at the shooting mat and are the same for all athletes.

Athletes shoot in the prone position; however, some sit skiers may shoot in the sitting position if they are unable to shoot prone due to their impairment.

Para biathlon is governed by the International Biathlon Union (IBU).
 

Source of information credit: International Paralympic Committee
Source of photo credit: International Paralympic Committee