Clean shooting has secured Johan-Olav Botn of Norway the gold medal after the men's 20-kilometer individual biathlon at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.

Biathlon combines two sports – cross-country skiing and shooting – into one race. The biathlon first made its debut 66 years ago in the 1960 Winter Olympics at the renamed Palisades Tahoe in Olympic Valley near Lake Tahoe. This year, the Winter Olympic biathlon games will be held in Antholz (Anterselva), Italy.

Johan-Olav Botn hit all 20 targets to claim gold for Norway in the Olympic 20 kilometres biathlon race on Tuesday. Botn, the early season World Cup leader, was 14.

Olympic biathletes shoot at targets using .22-caliber rifles while racing on cross-country skis. Here’s a closer look at the combined sporting event. (Photo: AP)

Norway's Johan-Olav Botn roared the name of late teammate Sivert Guttorm Bakken as he crossed the line as winner of the men's 20 km individual biathlon on Tuesday, pointing to the heavens in a moment of triumph and grief.

The 2026 Winter Olympics are underway with more than 80 commentators covering events across an array of NBC platforms. There are 11 biathlon events on the schedule for this year’s games, and we’ve got everything you need to know about the voices bringing you all the action.

French biathlon star Julia Simon earned gold at the 2026 Winter Olympics following her six-month ban for alleged credit card fraud. “I think we’ll all be relieved she can leave her wallet at home,” commentator Matt Iseman joked on Sunday,

Biathlon's mixed relay event at the Milano Cortina Olympics saw lots of fancied competitors crack under pressure, undone by the sport's tendency to catch out even the best when faced with five targets to hit from 50 metres with the world watching.

ANTERSELVA, Italy (AP) — France dominated the second half of the mixed relay biathlon race at the Milan Cortina Olympics on Sunday with fast skiing and strong shooting to take gold ahead of Italy and Germany.

U.S. Biathlon head coach Armin Auchentaller grew up cross-country skiing on the trails that weave through the thick forests lining the Antholz valley in northern Italy.