Andy Soule becomes the first American to medal in Paralympic biathlon
November 10, 2020 No Comments
Wounded while serving in Afghanistan, he took up cross-country skiing and five years later competed at Vancouver 2010.
Biathlon and para biathlon are sports featured at the Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games, combining cross-country skiing with rifle shooting. While they both combine the same events, they differ in the equipment and techniques used.
Biathlon combines cross-country skiing and rifle shooting: biathletes race on skis, then stop at shooting ranges to test their accuracy on targets. Missed target shots result in time penalties or additional skiing distance, demanding endurance, precision, and strategy from biathletes. The winner is the biathlete who finishes the competition in the fastest time.
Biathlon made its Olympic debut at the 1960 Winter Games in Squaw Valley, California, featuring only the men’s 20-kilometer single event. Women’s biathlon events were introduced at the Albertville 1992 Olympic Winter Games.
Olympic biathlon includes multiple disciplines, with each showcasing a different set of skills. These events include:
Every biathlon event requires athletes to use a .22 caliber rifle that is carried on their backs during ski racing. During rifle shooting, athletes must use both prone and standing positions when firing at the targets.
Each event, however, carries different interval starts, shooting rounds, and penalties for a missed shooting target. Penalties can include added distance (150-meter penalty loop) or added time (1-minute penalty).
Biathletes are also penalized if the rifle is not pointed down in a safe direction, if they deviate from the marked race trail, or do not complete penalty loops.
The United States competed in biathlon at the debut of the sport during the 1960 Winter Games. While the biathlon remains the only Winter Olympic sport that Team USA has not won a medal, U.S. biathletes continue to improve their standings at the Winter Games.
Para biathlon made its Paralympic debut at the Innsbruck 1988 Paralympic Winter Games, featuring only standing events for para athletes with physical disabilities. In 1992, it expanded to include para athletes with visual impairments, followed by women’s events in 1994.
Para biathlon combines freestyle cross-country skiing and prone air rifle shooting: biathletes race on skis, then stop at shooting ranges to test their accuracy on targets. Para athletes do not carry their air rifle when skiing but pick it up at the shooting range. The winner is the athlete who finishes the competition with the fastest overall time.
Para athletes compete across three main categories:
Paralympic para biathlon events include:
Every para biathlon event requires athletes to use an air rifle equipped with an electronic targeting system. During rifle shooting, athletes only use the prone position when firing at targets. Visually impaired athletes use electronic rifles with sound signals to aim.
Each event, however, carries different interval starts, shooting rounds, and penalties for a missed shooting target. Penalties can include added distance (150-meter penalty loop) or added time (1-minute penalty).
While the sport only debuted in 1988, Team USA has increasingly established success in para biathlon over the years.
In 2010, Andy Soule became the first American para athlete to win a medal in para biathlon, winning bronze, at the Vancouver 2010 Winter Paralympic Games. At the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games, Oksana Masters won the first gold medal for Team USA in para biathlon.
With rising talent and top para biathlon contenders from Team USA, the United States is expected to continue winning medals in para biathlon at the upcoming Paralympic Winter Games.
The U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum in Colorado Springs celebrates the determination and skill of Team USA’s biathlon and para biathlon athletes. From historic milestones to triumphant stories, the Museum’s exhibits bring the excitement of the Winter Games to life. Discover the history of these athletes and what drives them to push the limits of endurance and precision, and plan your visit to Colorado Springs’ top sports attraction.
Wounded while serving in Afghanistan, he took up cross-country skiing and five years later competed at Vancouver 2010.