Physiological characteristics and performance of top U.S. biathletes

Success in biathlon involves skiing fast and shooting accurately. The purpose of this study was to determine whether physiological laboratory test results relate to success in biathlon. Tests included treadmill run and double-pole lactate profile and VO2peak tests, and a double-pole peak power test (UBP). 1993 National Points Rank (NR), racing ski time (ST), and shooting percentage (SP) from 1993 World Team Trials and laboratory test results (1993; N = 11 males, 10 females) were examined. Of athletes tested, six males and six females were top 10 U.S. ranked. Significance was identified between NR and ST (males, r = -0.88; females, r = -0.91). NR and SP were related for females (r = 0.75). Maximum run time during the VO2peak test was the only parameter related to NR (r = 0.72) or ST (r = -0.80) for males. Significance was identified for an uphill 1 km on snow double-pole time trial to NR (r = -0.84) and SP (r = -0.79) (subgroup; N = 8 males). For females, NR was related to running VO2peak (r = 0.81) and UBP (r = 0.95). Double-pole and running VO2peak were related to SP for women. This study suggests that SP is more important to NR for females than for males, and gender-specific tests might better predict success in elite biathlon skiers.