THE STRUCTURE OF A BIATHLON SPRINT COMPETITION

Abstract

A biathlon sprint competition event consists of a number of segments (variables), i.e. cross country skiing time, range time, so-called time difference (also consisting the time of penalty loops), and shooting performance. In the research part, the study analyzed the interrelations of these variables and their correlations with competitive performance at the Biathlon World Championship sprint competition. Regression analysis showed that total cross country skiing time is the most important determinant of competitive performance (74%). Total shooting performance prone and standing explains for 17%, and total range time accounts for 9% of the criterion variable. Factorial analysis determined five factors which logically complete the competition outcome in a biathlon sprint competition. These factors are: cross country skiing performance, shooting performance in the first lap – prone shooting, shooting time in the second lap, shooting performance in the second lap – standing shooting, shooting time in the first lap. In this sprint competition, cross country skiing time was found to be the determining effect on the overall competitive performance under the assumption of a relatively high shooting performance (at that particular event the average shooting accuracy was 89%). Given the large group of potentially successful competitors and the thinning time gaps between them, the demands for competitive performance are increasing. In sprint competitions, cross country skiing speed has joined high shooting accuracy in the group of factors determining competitive performance, and elite biathletes often win advantage over other competitors by demonstrating very fast and accurate shooting.