Not much has changed in Olympic biathlon since Beijing in terms of the sport's structure, rules or format. However, superstars in the sport have retired since the last Olympics, which creates space for new athletes to excel and step into the spotlight. 

Also, the venue for the Milan Cortina biathlon events is quite different from where they were hosted in Beijing. The Anterselva Biathlon Arena is unique because it has hosted six world championships: 1975, 1976, 1983, 1994, 2007 and 2020. Since 1978, the arena also has been home to the IBU Biathlon World Cup every January. This venue is very different from the Zhangjiakou National Biathlon Center at the 2022 Beijing Games, which was specifically was built for the Olympics and only held 6,000 fans.

• France's Quentin Fillon Maillet won gold in the 12.5km pursuit and the 20km individual events in Beijing
• Italy's Lisa Vittozzi took home bronze in the mixed relay event in PyeongChang but went home empty-handed from Beijing
• Italy's Dorothea Wierer is a three-time Olympic bronze medalist and is expected to retire after these Games
• Norway's Sturla Holm Laegreid won gold in the 4x7.5km relay in Beijing

• France's Eric Perrot has burst onto the scene since the last Olympics and now is the reigning world champion in the 20km individual
• Campbell Wright is considered the rising star on the U.S. biathlon team. The 23-year-old dual citizen joined Team USA two years ago after competing for New Zealand at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. Now, Wright is expected to represent the U.S. at the 2026 Milan Cortina Games and is predicted to be the best shot for Team USA to bring home its first biathlon medal. In 2025, the Olympian secured two silver medals in the men's 10km sprint and the 12.5km pursuit at the Biathlon World Championships in Lenzerheide, Switzerland. Wright also became the first American to earn the U23 globe in the Biathlon World Cup. The trophy is given to the top under 23 men biathletes in the world.
• Lou Jeanmonnot of France had eight World Cup wins in the 2024-25 season, including the women’s 7.5km sprint and the 10km pursuit at the 2026 Olympic venue in Italy

The most notable veteran biathletes who are not returning for the 2026 Games are the Norwegian brothers Tarjei Boe and Johannes Thingnes Boe. The pair have eight Olympic gold medals between them and both retired at the end of the 2024-2025 season.

The International Biathlon Union implemented a full ban of ski preparation products, like ski wax, containing fluorocarbons at all its events beginning in the 2023-24 season.

• Norway's Endre Stromsheim is the reigning world champion in the 15km mass start and Sturla Holm Laegreid won gold in the 4x7.5km relay in Beijing
• Eric Perrot of France is the reigning world champion in the 20km individual and is expected to compete in his first Olympics at Milan Cortina 2026

• Italy's Tommaso Giacomel is the 2025 world silver medalist in the men’s 20km individual and has one of the best chances to deliver Italy its first gold medal in biathlon
• Lisa Vittozzi of Italy took home bronze in the mixed relay in PyeongChang but went home empty-handed from Beijing. Her podium chances are high in the 15km individual and the 10km pursuit. She's another solid chance for the host nation to win an Olympic gold in biathlon.
• Italy's Dorothea Wierer is a three-time Olympic bronze medalist and is expected to retire after the Games. She's expected to be an outside medal contender for the host nation.
• Campbell Wright is considered the rising star on the U.S. biathlon team. The 23-year-old dual citizen joined Team USA two years ago after competing for New Zealand at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. He is predicted to be the best shot for Team USA to bring home its first Olympic biathlon medal.
• Following the retirement of the Boe brothers, the men's field is wide open at the top for the next generation. The host nation's top contenders, Wright of the U.S., Norway's Endre Stromsheim and Sturla Holm Laegreid, as well as France's Eric Perrot and Quentin Fillon Maillet will look to take over the reins at the top.