Biathletes shoot at targets that are 50 meters away in all standard competitions.

Quick Scoop

  • Standard biathlon shooting distance: 50 m from the firing line to the targets.
  • Number of targets per bout: 5 circular targets each time an athlete comes to the range.
  • Target sizes:
    • Prone position (lying down): about 45 mm (4.5 cm) in diameter.
* Standing position: about 115 mm (11.5 cm) in diameter.

A bit of context

In biathlon, athletes ski loops of the course, then stop at the range and shoot at these 50 m targets, either prone or standing, carrying a .22 caliber rifle on their back the whole time. Missing a target usually means skiing a 150 m penalty loop or getting time added, depending on the race format. This mix of endurance skiing and precise 50 m shooting is what makes biathlon so distinctive and tense to watch.

TL;DR: They shoot from 50 meters away at five small metal targets each time they come to the range.

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