Section 6: Scoring
6.1 Time-Based Results
All biathlon events are determined by total elapsed time. The fastest time wins. Times are recorded to 1/10th of a second. Penalties (time additions or penalty loop skiing time) are included in the total elapsed time.
6.2 Individual Event Penalties
In the Individual event, each missed target adds 1 minute (60 seconds) to the athlete's total time. With 20 possible targets across 4 stages, a perfect shooting score adds 0 penalty minutes, while a worst-case scenario adds 20 minutes. Elite athletes typically miss 0–3 targets. The 1-minute penalty is calibrated so that one miss roughly equals the time difference between a top-10 and a top-30 skiing performance on a given day.
6.3 Penalty Loop Time Cost
In Sprint, Pursuit, Mass Start, and Relay events, each missed target requires skiing one 150 m penalty loop. Elite athletes complete the loop in 20–25 seconds, depending on course conditions and fatigue. With 5 targets per stage and 2–4 stages per event, misses accumulate rapidly: 3 total misses cost approximately 1 minute; 5 misses cost approximately 1 minute 40 seconds.
6.4 Relay Scoring
The team's total time is the elapsed time from the first-leg start to the final-leg finish. All penalty loop time is included. The spare-round system in relay means that misses cost time (loading individual rounds is slower than magazine shooting) but may avoid the even greater cost of a full penalty loop.
6.5 World Cup Points
World Cup points are awarded based on finishing position (1st = 60 points, 2nd = 54, etc., down to 40th = 1 point). Points accumulate over the season to determine the Overall World Cup standings, discipline standings (Sprint, Pursuit, etc.), and Nations Cup rankings used for Olympic quota allocation.