Biathlon is a sport that combines cross-country skiing and rifle shooting, testing both endurance and precision. Para biathlon first was introduced for athletes with physical disabilities at the 1988 Innsbruck Paralympic Games, while competition for athletes with visual disabilities followed in 1992. 

Para biathlon events range in distance and athletes ski three or five loops in free technique depending on the length of the race. After each lap skied, athletes stop for a shooting stage during which they must hit five targets. For each missed target, athletes are assessed a one-minute time penalty or must ski a penalty lap after leaving the shooting range. The athlete who completes the competition in the fastest overall time is deemed the winner. 

In para biathlon, athletes compete in one of three categories (sitting, standing or vision impaired), and specialized equipment is used depending on the athlete’s needs. Athletes may utilize sit-skis, standing adaptive skis or a ski guide during the cross-country skiing portion of the competition. During the shooting portion, athletes with visual disabilities use an electronic rifle that enables them to aim using their hearing. A higher frequency tone indicates closer proximity to the center of the target. The target size for athletes with visual disabilities is 21mm, while the target size for athletes with physical disabilities is 13mm. All athletes shoot at targets from 10m away. 

In addition to the specialized equipment used to compete in each of the three categories, there are several other differences between Paralympic biathlon and Olympic biathlon. In para biathlon, athletes exclusively shoot from the prone position, but may shoot from the sitting position if unable to shoot prone. In Olympic biathlon, athletes alternate between the standing and prone position, with the sequence dependent upon the individual event. While athletes competing in Olympic biathlon travel with their rifles during the cross-country skiing portion of competition, athletes competing in para biathlon receive their rifles in the shooting range. 

Para biathlon begins on Saturday, March 7 with the men’s and women’s 12.5km individual sitting, standing and vision impaired finals. Competition continues on Tuesday, March 10 with the men’s and women’s 7.5km sitting, standing and vision impaired finals. Men’s and women’s sprint pursuit qualifying rounds and finals close out competition on Friday, March 13. 

Stay tuned on the NBC Para Biathlon page for broadcast and streaming information.

Biathlon at the 2026 Milan Cortina Paralympics will be contested at the Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium in Val di Fiemme.

Val di Fiemme was the first location in the southern Alps to host a Nordic World Ski Championship, which took place in 1991. Since then, Tesero has established itself as a key destination in international Nordic skiing.

The venue also will host para cross-country skiing as well as Olympic cross-country skiing and Nordic combined.

There will be 18 para biathlon events contested at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Paralympics, with nine women's and nine men's events. Athletes will compete in the 7.5km sprint, sprint pursuit and 12.5km race in all three categories (sitting, standing and vision impaired).