Quentin Fillon Maillet (2) of France competes during the men’s biathlon 15-km mass start at the Anterselva Biathlon Arena in Antholz-Anterselva, Italy, on Friday, Feb. 20, 2026. Millon Maillet won the bronze medal in the event. (James Hill/The New York Times)
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A cross-country ski race is normally pretty straightforward. The best athletes get to the front and stay there most of the way.
In biathlon, there is chaos. And that chaos is caused by a gun.
Athletes must carry a rifle strapped to their backs as they ski. And every so often, they must shoot at a target. Miss, and they have to ski a 150-meter penalty lap. And that is where the chaos comes in. The best skier in the world might have a big lead. But if he misses some targets, those penalty laps might drop him abruptly back in the pack.
As the misses pile up, the order of the skiers shifts unpredictably, leaving the medalists in doubt for most of the race.
On Friday in the marquee event, the 15-kilometer mass start race, the best skier/shooter was Johannes Dale-Skjevdal of Norway. He kept it simple, missing no targets at all, the only skier to do so. Combined with his strong skiing, that gave him the gold medal.
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This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
By Victor Mather and James Hill/James Hill
c. 2026 The New York Times Company
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