Training Additional Information Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics Search FranaisLearn more about the Olympic MovementOlympic PhotosOlympic VideosOlympism in ActionOlympic Sports Olympic AthletesOlympic NewsFuture Olympic GamesPast Olympic games Vancouver 2010 OlympicsLondon 2012 OlympicsSochi 2014 OlympicsRio 2016 Olympics Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games Alpine Skiing Biathlon Bobsleigh CrossCountry Skiing Curling Figure Skating Freestyle Skiing Ice Hockey Luge Nordic Combined Short Track Speed Skating Skeleton Ski Jumping Snowboard Speed Skating BiathlonSchedule and Results Medals Biathlon Medallists Historical Biathlon Medals Historical Biathlon Medallists Geo View Athletes Geo View News Olympic News Best of the Web Podcast Biathlon Photos Biathlon Videos Olympic Tickets Prices Sales and Information Olympic Tickets How to Buy Tickets Ticket Prices International Ticket Sales Tickets FAQs The Olympic Store Watch Olympics Live Spectator Guide Venues Interactive Map Celebrations and Ceremonies Transportation Accommodation At the Games Travelling to Canada Accessibility Consumer Awareness Buy Real Essential Contacts Souvenirs Spectator Information FAQs Explore Vancouver and British Columbia More 2010 Information Cultural Festivals and Events Sustainability Education Programs Aboriginal Participation Mascots Games and More Olympic Torch Relay Work and Volunteer Winter Games History About VANOC Media Centre Local Business Organization and Resident Information Paralympic Games Alpine Skiing Biathlon CrossCountry Skiing Ice Sledge Hockey Wheelchair Curling Schedule & Results Medals Athletes News Photos Videos Tickets Store Spectator Guide More 2010 Information TrainingBiathletes train for two disciplines marksmanship and Nordic skiingHighperformance biathletes will train two and a half hours at a time and up to 13 or more sessions per week doing one or both disciplines Some training sessions are focused solely on precision marksmanship in the shooting range while others are focused on skiing The majority of practices however combine both disciplines where athletes alternate physical intervals with shooting bouts with targets in a sequenceDistance and speedAlthough all races are skied using the free technique some biathletes will choose to use the classic technique during their long distance active recovery sessions While the longest distance in biathlon at the Olympic Winter Games is 20 kilometres for men or 15 kilometres for women their practices will often be much longer Biathletes will sometimes ski 35 kilometres or more in one sessionBiathlon like crosscountry skiing is a wholebody sport As a result when biathletes are in the gym they work all of the major muscle groups and also the smaller supportive muscles and tendons that need to be strengthened to prevent injuries Back strength for instance is important for carrying the rifl...