Biathlon Prone Shooting Project
An interdisciplinary assessment of biathlon prone shooting
Project Details
An interdisciplinary assessment of biathlon prone shooting
In the winter sport of biathlon, which combines cross-country skiing and rifle shooting, success depends on skiing speed, shooting accuracy and time spent on the shooting range. During each shooting bout, biathletes aim to quickly hit five targets, with a diameter of 4.5cm in the prone position and 11.5cm in the standing posture. But unlike rifle precision shooters, biathletes shoot while physically exhausted, having already completed the cross-country skiing element of the event.
This project builds on a previous study, where strong correlations were found between visual skills and shooting success in the prone position in biathletes.
The initial study in this ongoing project involved testing the visual skills considered important in biathlon, as recognised by biathletes’ responses to a questionnaire. These results were then compared to biomechanical measures linked to successful shooting. Following that, in the new study started in 2025, focus groups were carried out with elite biathlon coaches to understand their views on the visual requirements of biathlon. These identified visual skills have then been tested in elite biathletes from two nations, and the athletes were also tested when highly fatigued to understand the impact that may have on both vision and shooting
Research goals
The project aims to understand the underlying visual skills which are linked to success in the prone shooting element of biathlon, and the impact of fatigue on athletes’ visual performance. Currently, biathletes do not train their vision as an element of their performance, but if clear links are found, this can then be added to their training programme to bring about improvement.
Team and collaborators
The project is a collaboration between Health Sciences University’s Dr Zoe Wimshurst and the Finnish and US National Biathlon teams. Also supporting the work are researchers from the Finnish Institute of High Performance Sport KIHU and the Sport Technology Unit in the Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences at the University of Jyväskylä, Vuokatti, both in Finland, as well as Montana State University in the US.
Funding and Support
The project has been funded by the International Biathlon Union, with support from both the Finnish and US national teams.
Key findings
The initial study, carried out in 2024, found some strong correlations between certain visual skills and the biomechanical factors related to successful shooting. However, in this phase of the study, the participants were national A team athletes – slightly below the highest level possible. Also, there were no elements of fatigue involved in the testing.
To date in 2025, Zoe has, via focus groups, identified the visual skills elite coaches consider important for shooting success in biathlon, and compared these to the visual skills considered important by the wider biathlon community, previously collected via questionnaire. Interestingly, her work has identified differences in the perceived importance of various visual skills between these groups.
Data collection from Finnish and US national team athletes is now completed, with the collection of shooting data for comparison ongoing.
Impact and Media
Impact
Whilst the primary focus of this study is prone shooting within the sport of biathlon, its impact could go far further. The findings should be applicable widely throughout the world of shooting, including learning and implications within the military and police fields.
Media and publications
At time of publication, one paper on this research is in the final stages of preparation, with another due later this year. Plus look out for more on this project in the media when the biathlon season starts in late autumn!
Get Involved
The project team are looking to further this research in other related fields, so would welcome the involvement of members of targeting sports or the military who are interested in improving accuracy through identifying and then training their visual skills.
Please contact zwimshurst@aecc.ac.uk
