Biathlon is the art of combining two disciplines with opposing demands: cross-country skiing for speed and endurance, and rifle shooting for precision and calm.
Born in the Nordic countries as military training, it has become an exciting Olympic discipline, as intense to practise as it is to watch.
Just imagine: your legs are burning after a climb, your heart is racing… and yet you still have to aim right. Make a mistake? A penalty round. A perfect shot? Euphoria guaranteed.
Beyond the competition, it’s also a sensory experience: managing your breath, channelling your emotions and immersing yourself in a grandiose winter setting.
In France, biathlon has enjoyed a veritable media boom thanks to iconic figures such as Martin Fourcade, five-time Olympic champion and multiple World Cup winner. His exploits, consistency and fighting spirit have inspired a whole generation of sportsmen and women, and made the general public want to put on their skis and try this discipline.