In biathlon, the target is 50 meters away from the shooting mat.

A couple of extra details that help this make sense:

  • Distance: All standard biathlon events use a 50 m shooting distance.
  • Number of targets: Athletes shoot at 5 targets each time they stop at the range.
  • Target size prone: About 45 mm (1.8 in) across when shooting lying down.
  • Target size standing: About 115 mm (4.5 in) across when shooting standing.

So when you see biathletes drop to shoot during a race, they’re trying to hit coin‑sized targets 50 m away, often with a racing heart and shaky breathing—which is a big part of what makes the sport so dramatic to watch.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.