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Carvings dating back 4,000 years are the first depictions of prehistoric hunters who hold weapons and are propelled along on wooden planks similar to skis.

By the time the activity became popular winter sport, woman were also joining in on the hunt as seen in 16th century llustrations,

By the 18th century, border patrols in Northern Europe were competing in early biathlons, but it wasn't until the 20th century that the first Olympic biathlon was entered as a demonstration sport.

1960 saw its first official appearance as an Olympic event, at the Squaw Valley Winter Olympics, with the first biathlon competition for women featured at the Albertville games in 1992.

One of the most challenging of winter sports, the biathlon combines the physical demands of cross-country skiing with the mental acuity of precision marksmanship. The true test of a biathlon athlete converges at the shooting range, as competitors are forced to stop, take a breath, aim, and hit their target. Missed targets are made up with additional distance or minutes added to the course - so stamina over the long haul is a hard-won attribute of any champion biathlete.

Five men's and women's competitions comprise the the Olympic program in individual, sprint, pursuit, relay and mass start competitions.

More about Olympic biathlon around the Web:

International Olympic Committee - Biathlon - Overview of the biathlon competitions, list of events, Olympic records, Flash presentation, star athlete profiles, picture gallery.

Biathlon World - Top news headlines, pictures, video clips, databases searchable by event, results or athlete, online chat, forum, fun and games.

US Biathlon - The official team site offering headline news, calendar of events, results, athlete profiles, pictures, online store.

Biathlon Canada - Official team site featuring the latest news, results and standings, pictures, athlete biographies, details on men's and women's programs, related links and resources in English and French.

Allen's Biathlon Page - Extensive fan site with biathlon history, ski and rifle tips and techniques, pictures, related links and resources.

also in Winter Olympics -> Alpine Skiing | Biathlon | Bobsled

Cross-country Skiing | Curling | Figure Skating | Freestyle Skiing

Ice Hockey | Luge | Nordic Combined | Short-Track Skating

Skeleton | Ski Jumping | Speed Skating | Snowboard