James Bond fans may have been exposed to biathlon in “For your eyes only,” when a fictitious biathlon champion (and agent) leaves his race to chase Bond through a series of winter sports venues. While the U.S. has played an important role in returning the sport to the Winter Olympics, most Americans are unfamiliar with biathlon. The exciting winter sport of biathlon, which combines the dual physical skills of cross-country skiing with marksmanship, is a fast-paced sport that enjoys great popularity in Europe. These skills may seem an unlikely combination; but in fact, the biathlon combination of physical skills and accuracy has a realistic basis in history. Hunting on skis, the utilitarian forerunner of biathlon, required the same coupling of effort and concentration as the exciting Winter Olympic sport of today. Although it can be traced to prehistoric Scandinavia, its role in military planning and strategies by early Scandinavian military ski troops can be said to be the true origins of this exciting modern-day sport.
This book explains what biathlon is, what it takes and how it’s done, as well as the people and organizations involved in the history and development of the sport in the U.S. Photographs, glossary, references, index, and a listing of U.S. champions and international participation of American athletes in the Biathlon World Championship and Winter Olympic Games, are included.