Breathing and heart rate when the biathlete shoots

Biathlon asks athletes to hold a rifle steady straight after intense skiing, with the body still under heavy strain and the mind under pressure [1]. Recent studies have begun to examine how heart rate, oxygen uptake and breathing frequency relate to what happens at the shooting range [2][3].

Biathlon combines cross-country skiing with rifle marksmanship, and the shooting demands fine motor control after intense exercise and under mental pressure [1]. A 2018 review noted that scientific knowledge about the sport is still quite limited [1].

In a 2026 field study, 20 well-trained biathletes, ten of them women, completed a simulated competition twice, once carrying the rifle and once without it [3]. Heart rate and respiratory variables were measured throughout each trial, and the simulated shootings lasted 38.9 ± 8.2 s [3].

Roller-skiing speed was lower with the rifle (5.49 ± 0.47 m/s) than without it (5.69 ± 0.49 m/s) [3]. Oxygen uptake and breathing frequency were higher with the rifle during the second simulated shooting [3]. The authors concluded that elevated physiological markers may harm standing shooting performance, so biathletes should optimise their pacing [3].

Another study used 16 well-trained Chinese biathletes (mean age 20.52) to simulate para-biathlon, gliding and then shooting prone at 100%, 85% and 70% of maximum heart rate [2]. After standing gliding, the number of hits at 70% differed significantly from the numbers at 100% and 85% [2]. After seated gliding, in the second transition round, 85% gave significantly more hits than 100% [2].

The authors concluded that 85% of maximum heart rate worked best for para-biathletes, giving the shortest shooting time, the most hits and the highest hit rate [2]. In 32 biathletes in a simulated race, higher heart rate, exertion, fatigue and negative affect predicted greater distortions in time perception during roller-skiing and shooting [4].

A study of 44 elite athletes (15 biathletes and 29 cross-country skiers) and 20 sedentary controls found lower alerting scores in the winter athletes, and the effect was stronger in the biathletes [5]. The authors interpret this as a trained "cognitive shield" that helps maintain precise marksmanship under high cardiovascular load [5].

In sprint races, shooting performance was associated with subsequent skiing pace, but the researchers say its influence remains unclear and needs further investigation [6]. They suggest that monitoring pacing in training and competition may help biathletes develop better strategies [6].