Paralympics Biathlon
The Biathlon became part of the Paralympic program at the Innsbruck 1988 Games for athletes with a physical disability; at the Albertville 1992 Games, athletes with a visual impairment were also able to compete in biathlon. Paralympic biathlon features a 7.5km route divided into three 2.5km stages. Between the two stages athletes must hit two targets located 10 meters away from them with a rifle. Athletes with a physical disability use an air or CO2 rifle with a five-shot clip, while visually impaired athletes shoot with an electronic rifle that allows them to aim by listening to acoustic signals. Each miss is penalized by an increase in the overall route time.
At the Salt Lake 2002 Paralympics, visually impaired Wilhelm Berm of Germany set the tone for the week by shooting a clean round and earning the first of multiple gold medals. The most decorated athlete, however, was Ragnhild Myklebust, who came to Salt Lake with 12 Paralympic gold medals and earned even more at Soldier Hollow.
For more detailed information on Paralympic biathlon, please visit the official website at: www.ipc-nordicskiing.org
Results:
Men’s 7.5 km sitski
Gold Weber, Ruedi – Switzerland
Silver Anthofer, Oliver – Austria
Bronze Ruepp, Roland – Italy
Men’s 7.5 km Free Technique Blind
Gold Brem, Wilhelm – Germany
Silver Balaz, Marian – Slovakia
Bronze Hoefle, Frank – Germany
Men’s 7.5 km Free Technique Standing
Gold Giesen, Josef – Germany
Silver Darovskikh, Valeriy – Russia
Bronze Mesik, Jozef – Slovakia
Women’s 7.5 km sitski
Gold Myklebust, Ragnhild – Norway
Silver Iurkovska, Olena – Ukraine
Bronze Tryfonova, Svitlana – Ukraine
Women’s 7.5 km Free Technique Blind
Gold Bentele, Verena – Germany
Silver Gravvold, Tone – Norway
Bronze Tabouret, Emilie – France
Women’s 7.5 km Free Technique Standing
Gold van de Bunt, Majorie – Netherlands
Silver Floriet, Anne – France
Bronze Kaploniak, Bogumila – Poland