High-speed biathlon brings young athletes together

On Saturday, 8 August 2026, Barbara Ertl, Biathlon 4 All Project Coordinator in Italy, organised a special biathlon race for children in her village, testing a new “high-speed” race format designed to make the sport fast, accessible and exciting for young participants.

A total of 30 children aged between four and 13 took part in the event. The shooting range was equipped with four electronic rifles, while children under the age of seven took on an age-appropriate alternative challenge, throwing objects at a target instead of shooting.

The running course was also adapted to the different age groups. The youngest participants covered approximately 35 metres, the middle age group ran 50 metres, and the oldest children completed a 70-metre course. Several obstacles along the route added another element of fun and challenge.

Before racing began, all participants had the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the course and practise at the shooting range. The practice session was followed by an individual competition, before children in the electronic rifle categories teamed up for an exciting relay race.

Each heat featured four competitors, helping to keep the action fast-paced and easy for spectators to follow. Every missed target resulted in a five-second time penalty.

At the awards ceremony, every participant received a medal and some sweets, while the top three competitors in each category were rewarded with an even bigger bag of treats.

Barbara Ertl was delighted with the response to the new format.

“It was a nice event with 30 participants. The race format was very dynamic, and everything ran quickly and smoothly. The children really enjoyed the competition, and the feedback from visitors and parents was very positive. I think it is a great race format for getting children excited about biathlon.”

Inclusion was also part of the event, with one staff member with a disability actively involved in the organisation.