Biathlon — which combines cross-country skiing and rifle shooting — did not start as a sport, but as a way for northern European hunters, as early as 2000 BC, to put food on the table. Beginning in the mid-16th century, however, Scandinavian countries began using troops on skis to defend against their enemies.
The word “biathlon” comes from the Greek word for “two tests.” Today, biathlon consists of 10 separate events that involve both cross-country skiing and target shooting. The objective in biathlon is to complete the course in the least amount of time, hitting as many targets as possible to avoid time penalties.
Taken from: http://www.vancouver2010.com
This video is from the World Championship in 2008. Oksana Khvostenko is from the Ukraine. The video is not in English, but this will give you an idea of what competitors do in the biathlon.
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