OLYMPIC DEBUT

1960 Squaw Valley, United States

ORIGINS

Biathlon's history can be traced back thousands of years and is based on hunting on skis. More recently the sport has its roots in the military.

A form of biathlon called 'military patrol' was a sport at the first Olympic Winter Games in 1924, but was taken off the program in 1948.

Biathlon was added to the Olympics in 1960 with the men's 20 km individual competition and has grown from there. Women's biathlon was added to the Olympics in 1992.