Biathlon first appeared at the Olympics with the 20km men’s individual event in 1960. Eight years later, the men’s relay was added. It took until 1992 for women’s biathlon events to feature in the Winter Olympics, with individual, sprint, and relay events.
By 2002, men’s and women’s pursuit races were included in the Olympic schedule. In 2022, France led all nations with a total of 12 biathletes in competition. Eight other countries had double-digit biathletes at the games and a similar turnout is expected for the 2026 Olympics in Milan.
South Tyrol Arena is the venue for biathlon events at the 2026 Games. There are 210 biathletes involved in the Winter Olympics, with the first 93 athletes for each gender being decided by World Cup scores. Nations without any qualifying athletes in that phase were given a maximum of two athletes through their IBU Qualifying Points.
Biathlon Olympic Schedule
🏆 8th February, 13:05 – Mixed Relay, 4x6km
🏆 10th February, 12:30 – Men’s 20km Individual
🏆 11th February, 13:15 – Women’s 15km Individual
🏆 13th February, 13:00 – Men’s 10km Sprint
🏆 14th February, 13:45 – Women’s 7.5km Sprint
🏆 15th February, 10:15 – Men’s 12.5km Pursuit
🏆 15th February, 13:45 – Women’s 10km Pursuit
🏆 17th February, 13:30 – Men’s 4×7.5km Relay
🏆 18th February, 13:45 – Women’s 4x6km Relay
🏆 20th February, 13:15 – Men’s 15km Mass Start
🏆 21st February, 13:15 – Women’s 12.5km Mass Start
Biathlon Women’s Predictions
Elvira Oberg and Lou Jeanmonnont are tied of the shortest odds at 5/1 in the women’s sprint. Jeanmonnont has a significant lead in the overall World Cup standings and has been the top sprint performer throughout this cycle.
Oberg delivered her best performance of the season in Oberhof last month, but Jeanmonnont has the superior consistency. Don’t write off Justine Braisaz-Bouchet, who had a win in the Czech Republic a couple of weeks ago.
Behind Jeanmonnont, Suvi Minkkinen is a name to keep an eye on in the individual event. The Finn has impressed in longer races so far this season.
Recent Sprint Winners
🏆 2022 – Marte Olsbu Roiseland
🏆 2018 – Laura Dahlmeier
🏆 2014 – Anastasiya Kuzmina
🏆 2010 – Anastasiya Kuzmina
🏆 2006 – Florence Baverel-Robert
🏆 2002 – Kati Wilhelm
🏆 1998 – Galina Kukleva
Recent 15km Winners
🏆 2022 – Denise Hermann
🏆 2018 – Hanna Oberg
🏆 2014 – Darya Domracheva
🏆 2010 – Tora Berger
🏆 2006 – Svetlana Ishmouratova
🏆 2002 – Andrea Henkel
🏆 1998 – Ekaterina Dafovska
Biathlon Men’s Predictions
Four biathletes have shorter odds in the sprint than World Cup leader Eric Perrot. The Frenchman and won both the mass start and the short individual in the most recent World Cup meeting.
Tommaso Giacomel, who won the sprint and pursuit in Oberhof, is the betting favourite for the shortest race in Milan. Perrot, however, is the 3/1 favourite ahead of Sturla Holm Laegreid in the 20km individual.
Giacomel and Perrot have been the strongest competitors so far in the World Cup, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see them complete a combined sweep of the golds in Italy.
Recent Sprint Winners
🏆 2022 – Johannes Thingnes Bo
🏆 2018 – Arnd Peiffer
🏆 2014 – Ole Einar Bjorndalen
🏆 2010 – Vincent Jay
🏆 2006 – Sven Fischer
🏆 2002 – Ole Einar Bjorndalen
🏆 1998 – Ole Einar Bjorndalen
Recent 20km Winners
🏆 2022 – Quentin Fillon Maillet
🏆 2018 – Johannes Thingnes Bo
🏆 2014 – Martin Fourcade
🏆 2010 – Emil Hegle Svendsen
🏆 2006 – Michael Greis
🏆 2002 – Johannes Thingnes Bo
🏆 1998 – Halvard Hanevold
Biathlon Relay Prediction
Champions in 2018, France are the betting favourites ahead of Sweden and Italy for the mixed relay. Norway, despite winning two of the three Winter Olympics mixed relays, sit at 4/1.
The Norwegians have finished third in two of the last three World Cup events, while France top the mixed relay standings after a win in Ostersund and a runner-up placing in Nove Mesto.
Mixed 4x6km Relay Odds:
🏆 France – 37/20
🏆 Sweden – 5/2
🏆 Italy – 5/2
🏆 Norway – 4/1
🏆 Germany – 14/1
🏆 Czechia – 40/1
Mixed Relay Winners:
🏆 2022 – Norway
🏆 2018 – France
🏆 2014 – Norway
