Jamie Squire/Allsport UK |
TERMS
Arm Sling: A belt used to stabilize the rifle and the athlete's arm while shooting in the prone position.
Biathlon: Greek word meaning two contests.
Clicks: The adjustments an athlete makes to the rifle's sight because of the wind and sun.
Firing Lane: The 50-meter space between the firing line and the target where athletes stop for the shooting portion of the race. Competitors shoot from different lanes.
Harness: Shoulder straps athletes use to carry the rifle.
Mass Start: The start in which all athletes begin at once. The mass start takes place in the Olympic relay event.
Penalty Loop: The 150-meter loop athletes ski when they miss targets in the sprint, relay and pursuit events. One missed target equals one penalty loop.
Prone: The position in which athletes shoot while lying down on their stomachs. The rifle can only be in contact with the competitor's hands, shoulder and cheek.
Rifle: A single loading .22 caliber rifle used for competition. Rifles should include a muzzle cover, used to keep snow from entering the muzzle, a fore sight and rear sight, which aid in aligning the target, and a magazine, which holds clips of five cartridges.
Standing: The shooting position in which athletes stand without any support. The rifle can only come in contact with the athlete's hands, shoulder, cheek and chest next to the shoulder.
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