Biathlon Emerges as Surprise Hit of Winter Olympics

Wacky, high-intensity sport draws passionate fans at Milano Cortina Games

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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Biathlon, the unique combination of cross-country skiing and rifle shooting, has emerged as a surprise hit at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics. Despite the U.S. never having won a medal in the sport, American athletes like Campbell Wright and Deedra Irwin are making breakthroughs, and the passionate fan culture surrounding biathlon events has captivated audiences.

Why it matters

Biathlon's growing popularity at the Winter Olympics highlights how fans are drawn to the sport's intense physical demands, colorful personalities, and dramatic storylines - traits that make it an exciting alternative to more mainstream winter events like figure skating and curling. The U.S. team's quest for its first-ever biathlon medal adds an underdog element that could further boost the sport's profile.

The details

At the picturesque Antholz-Anterselva venue, biathlon events have featured packed grandstands, lively tailgating scenes, and raucous fans waving flags and chanting for their national teams. The sport's combination of skiing endurance and shooting accuracy pushes athletes to their limits, with many collapsing in exhaustion after crossing the finish line. Off the field of play, the 2026 Games have also featured biathlon drama, including Norwegian bronze medalist Sturla Holm Lægreid's confession of infidelity that overshadowed a teammate's gold-medal performance.

  • The 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics feature 11 total biathlon gold medals, including 5 men's, 5 women's, and 1 mixed team event.
  • On February 10, Norwegian biathlete Sturla Holm Lægreid won bronze in the 20km event, then confessed in a post-race interview to cheating on his ex-girlfriend.
  • On February 13, top American biathlete Campbell Wright finished 12th in the 10km sprint, describing it as one of the toughest races of his career.

The players

Campbell Wright

The top American biathlete, who has had several top finishes on the World Cup circuit and won silver medals at last year's world championships.

Deedra Irwin

An American biathlete who had the best-ever individual finish for a U.S. athlete with a 7th place result at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, and has recorded multiple top-10 World Cup finishes this season.

Sturla Holm Lægreid

A Norwegian biathlete who won bronze in the 20km event at the 2026 Olympics, but then confessed in a post-race interview to cheating on his ex-girlfriend, creating a media firestorm.

Paul Schommer

A veteran U.S. biathlete who finished 47th in the 10km event at the 2026 Olympics.

Johan-Olav Botn

A Norwegian biathlete who won gold in an event at the 2026 Olympics, but had his achievement overshadowed by teammate Sturla Holm Lægreid's personal scandal.

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What they’re saying

“I would say we're pretty high up, especially with the headlines we've had this Olympics. It's been a bit outrageous, huh?”

— Campbell Wright (Yahoo Sports)

“I think biathlon is the most beautiful sport in the Winter Olympics. I think it's bloody awesome. It's so painful sometimes and so tough, but I love it.”

— Campbell Wright (Yahoo Sports)

“That was one of my hardest last kilometers I've had in a while. That really sucked. I was out of energy. My legs stopped working. And that sucks when it stops working and you're a (kilometer) away, because you know it's going to be a really long kilometer.”

— Campbell Wright (Yahoo Sports)

“Obviously biathlons had some interesting stuff coming out of this Games.”

— Paul Schommer, U.S. Biathlete (Yahoo Sports)

“I think I'm in the game for all of them. OK, it's a hard game, don't get me wrong. I don't think I'm going to medal 100% or anything. But just because I'm 12 today doesn't mean I'm out for the (others).”

— Campbell Wright (Yahoo Sports)

What’s next

The judge in the case involving Sturla Holm Lægreid's personal scandal will decide on Tuesday whether to allow the Norwegian biathlete out on bail.

The takeaway

Biathlon's growing popularity at the Winter Olympics highlights how fans are drawn to the sport's intense physical demands, colorful personalities, and dramatic storylines - traits that make it an exciting alternative to more mainstream winter events. The U.S. team's quest for its first-ever biathlon medal adds an underdog element that could further boost the sport's profile in the country.