Biathlon Winter Olympic Medal Winners (1960-2026): Complete List by Year, Country & Athlete

Biathlon debuted at the 1960 Winter Olympics in Squaw Valley with a single men’s event. By 1992, women’s competitions were added to the Olympic program, creating the modern biathlon era.

Today, it combines cross-country skiing with precision rifle shooting; a sport where speed and marksmanship both determine victory.

The data reveals clear dominance: Norway leads with 55+ total medals, followed by Germany (54) and France (32).

Ole Einar Bjørndalen’s record 13 Olympic medals (8 gold) remains unmatched, though Johannes Thingnes Bø and other Nordic athletes continue pushing records.

Complete Biathlon Olympic Medal Winners (1960-2022)

Biathlon encompasses multiple disciplines: 20km individual (men), 15km individual (women), 10km sprint (men), 7.5km sprint (women), pursuit races, mass starts, and relay events.

Each combines ski performance with shooting precision; misses result in time penalties or penalty loops.

Most Decorated Biathletes in Olympic History

Biathlon Medals by Country (All-Time)

Biathlon Events & Medal Distribution (1960-2022)

Age Records & Notable Achievements

Youngest Gold Medalists:

• Frank Ullrich (East Germany): 18 years old, Men’s 4×7.5km Relay, 1976
• Anastasia Kuzmina (Slovakia): 21 years old, Women’s Sprint, 2010
• Johannes Thingnes Bø (Norway): 23 years old, Men’s Sprint, 2018

Oldest Gold Medalists:

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• Halvard Hanevold (Norway): 40 years old, Men’s 4×6km Relay, 2010
• Ricco Gross (Germany): 35 years old, Men’s 4×7.5km Relay, 2002
• Sergey Tchepikov (Russia): 39 years old, Men’s 20km Individual, 1994

Most Olympic Appearances:

• Ole Einar Bjørndalen: 5 Olympics (1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014)
• Uschi Disl: 3 Olympics (1992, 1994, 1998)
• Ricco Gross: 4 Olympics (1992, 1994, 1998, 2002)

Gender Milestones:

• First women’s Olympic biathlon: 1992 Albertville (three events)
• First female biathlon gold: Antje Misersky (Germany, 1992, 15km individual)
• First non-European biathlon winner: Klas Lestander (Sweden, 1960) ;  actually Scandinavian
• First non-European female winner: Myriam Bédard (Canada, 1992)
• Female record in single Games: Marte Olsbu Roiseland (Norway, 2022, 5 medals)

FAQs

Who is the most decorated Olympic biathlete?

Ole Einar Bjørndalen (Norway) holds the record with 13 Olympic medals (8 gold, 4 silver, 1 bronze) across five Winter Games (1998-2014). At Salt Lake City 2002, he won all three individual events plus the relay; a clean sweep unmatched in Olympic biathlon history.

Which country has won the most biathlon medals?

Norway leads with 55+ total medals (22 gold, 18 silver, 15+ bronze) since biathlon’s Olympic debut in 1960. Germany follows with 54 total medals (20 gold), making Scandinavia the undisputed powerhouse of the sport.

Who won biathlon at the 2022 Beijing Olympics?

Men: Johannes Thingnes Bø (Norway, sprint/pursuit/mass start + relay). Women: Marte Olsbu Roiseland (Norway, sprint/pursuit/mass start + relay), Denise Herrmann (Germany, 15km individual). The mixed relay was won by Norway.

How many biathlon events are there at the Olympics?

Biathlon comprises 11 medal events: Men’s 10km sprint, 15km individual, 25km mass start, 4×6km relay; Women’s 7.5km sprint, 12.5km pursuit, 15km individual, 4×6km relay; and a mixed 2×6km relay (added 2014).

When did biathlon first become an Olympic sport?

Biathlon debuted at the 1960 Winter Olympics in Squaw Valley, featuring only a men’s 20km individual event. Sweden’s Klas Lestander won the inaugural gold by shooting perfectly (20-for-20) despite having the 15th-fastest ski time.

Why does Norway dominate biathlon?

Norway’s dominance stems from deep Scandinavian skiing culture, mountain geography, and systematic biathlon development through the International Biathlon Union. Combined with world-class coaching and consistent athlete talent pipelines, Norway has produced legends like Bjørndalen and Thingnes Bø.

Has any biathlete won gold in all events at a single Olympics?

No single biathlete has won all individual event golds at one Games. However, Ole Einar Bjørndalen won three individual golds plus the relay at Salt Lake City 2002; the closest any biathlete has come to dominating a single Olympic Games.

What’s the connection between biathlon and military heritage?

Biathlon originated from Scandinavian military winter training, combining skiing (mobility) and rifle shooting (combat). The sport was formalized in 1912 and debuted as “military patrol” at the 1924 Winter Olympics before being standardized as “biathlon” for 1960 onward.

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