History

The biathlon, which combines cross-country skiing and rifle shooting, originated in Norway as a training exercise for soldiers. The first known competition took place in 1767 between companies of guards who patrolled the border with Sweden. Late in the 19th century, local rifle and ski clubs in Norway and other Scandinavian countries practiced the sport to keep their members prepared for combat.

An early form of the biathlon, called " military ski patrol," was a demonstration sport at the first Winter Olympics in 1924, and it was a medal sport in 1928, 1936, and 1948.

Because few countries participated, and the few that did participate had trouble agreeing on the rules, the sport was dropped from the Olympics. However, the Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne et Biathlon was founded in 1948 to standardize rules for both the biathlon and the modern pentathlon.

The first world championship was held in 1957 and biathlon was added to the Winter Olympic program in 1960, but the U. S. didn't conduct a national championship until 1965. Following the lead of the international organization, the national governing body was originally the U. S. Modern Pentathlon and Biathlon Association. The U. S. Biathlon Association was spun off in 1980.