They wear Norwegian Viking helmets, French chicken suits and fuzzy black, red and yellow German cow hats, paint their faces in national colors, drape flags around their shoulders and don patriotic costumes as they sing YMCA or chant their hero’s name.

Biathlon, which combines rifle shooting and cross-country skiing, developed out of Scandinavian military training exercises. Three members of the U.S. biathlon team are with the Vermont National Guard: Staff Sgt.

Former Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool football coach Jürgen Klopp enjoyed his visit to the Olympic biathlon on Tuesday and even rang the bell for the final lap. He watched the men's 4 x 7.

Here's what to know on when biathlon begins at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, including a look at its full schedule for the Winter Games.

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.

Here is how the Biathlon works, including its rules, scoring and history in the Olympics.

ANTERSELVA, Italy (AP) — Julia Simon became the first Frenchwoman to win an Olympic gold medal in the women’s 15-kilometer individual biathlon race and teammate Lou Jeanmonnot took silver at the the Milan Cortina Games on Wednesday.

From helping hands up slippery paths, to drinks and sausages passed over seated revellers in the beer tent, to universal appreciation for Italy’s Lisa Vittozzi, who won the final race, the whole vibe was warm and welcoming.