The biathlon is an interesting Olympic event!

[Swamp ash]

The shooters are quite excellent under pressure. What a fun and challenging shooting sport
 It would be neat to have an event with handguns!

[armoredman]

Even better - make them compete with the infantry rifle of their respective country. Now THAT could be interesting!

[Psyop96]

One of my fav events. My thoughts too, with handgun shooting.....and also combine with short track speed skating [emoji3]

[armoredman]

How about a more realistic and interesting biathlon? Only ski/Mountain troops from active military are allowed to enter, and they must compete in full cold weather uniform and gear. Well, that WAS what brought the sport around - ski troops.

[painter]

Even better - make them compete with the infantry rifle of their respective country. Now THAT could be interesting!

In the past the biathlon was shot with centerfire...from Wikipedia...

The competitions from 1958 to 1965 used high-power centerfire cartridges, such as the .30-06 Springfield and the 7.62?51mm NATO, before the .22 Long Rifle rimfire cartridge was standardized in 1978. The ammunition was carried in a belt worn around the competitor's waist. The sole event was the men's 20 kilometres (12 mi) individual, encompassing four separate ranges and firing distances of 100 metres (330 ft), 150 metres (490 ft), 200 metres (660 ft), and 250 metres (820 ft). The target distance was reduced to 150 metres (490 ft) with the addition of the relay in 1966. The shooting range was further reduced to 50 metres (160 ft) in 1978 with the mechanical targets making their debut at the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid.

Pretty sure the Swedes used 6.5x55.

[Rickytick]

My wife even liked it.

[RPN]

My states Guard has a team...I haven't cross country skied in maaaany years or I would have thought about participating.  Shooting with your pulse rate flying sounds like fun to me!

[Grizzlie]

Not only is the shooting fantastic, but some of those rifles are pretty sweet looking. Especially the personalized ones.

[Wobbly]

All the rifles are bolt action, but to keep the bolt handle from digging into the skier's back during the non-shooting (boring  ) part, Anschutz makes a special rifle with a straight-pull Fortner action. The rifles have a muzzle cover to keep snow out, and all magazines are kept stored on the side of the forestock. These are very elaborate guns. Well, they better be for $3500 !!

http://jga.anschuetz-sport.com/index.php5?menu=152&sprache=1

I always wondered how/why the muzzle cover never got shot off. It's simple really. The cover simply extends far enough to black out the front sight. If you can't see the target, then you really can't shoot.

[flying]

Can only imagine what it is like to steady the aim with heart rates going well over 100 BPM

[Wobbly]

I think in Canada and other places, they actually have a jogging version of this sport for summertime. Can you imagine how much safer the streets would be if the Boston Marathon required all the runners to shoulder a rifle ?