Varia-Russia

Biathlon in Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics and in My Life
Varvara D., Moscow School 1302 class 5V Images: Varvara's family photo album Biathlon originates from Norway and is a traditional winter sport in Europe, which is equally accessible for men and for women. During competitions the biathlonists ski with a rifle and shoot at targets.

They must be very hardy, concentrated, dedicated and self-disciplined. The sportsmen should be good runners and skiers and must also have a very good eyesight to be able to hit the targets. If a biathlonist misses a target while shooting, he has to run and extra circle as a penalty. Ski tracks may vary from 5 to 50 kilometers long, depending on the competition.

We live in a part of Moscow, which is very picturesque and has a lot of parks along the Moskva river. In winter time, these parks turn into huge ski resorts with lots of skiing tracks.



My father, an experiences skier, offered me to star t training with him, and I agreed. My family is very sportive. My grandma carries a title of the "Master of Sports" (the highest rank in Soviet sports hierarchy) in figure skating.

My parents used to ski very often when they were young. My younger sister, who is 8 years old now, practices ballet and she loves it more than anything in her life. However, three years ago she joined by biathlon kids & junior team.

As a family of biathlon and ski fans, we wish the victory to all Russian sportsmen in our and their competitions.

While I was writing this blog, the 2014 Winter Olympic games started in Sochi. On of the three Sochi Olympics is a Bear, which sometimes is featured as a biothlonist. I am supporting the Russian biathlon team very much, but luck is so far not on their side. Yesterday, Russia's men team leader ** Anton Shipulin ** was very close to third place, but he lost .7 of a second to a Czech sportsman. I felt so sorry for him! I cannot even imagine how desperate he was. The fourth place is most disappointing, when you are so close to an Olympic medal.

**Ole Elner Bjordalen** won the gold medal in the men's sprint biathlon competition. It would not be so amazing, if he was not forty years old and if he hit all the targets. He was the oldest of 87 competitors and he missed one target out of 10, but even though he had to run an extra penalty circle, he managed to catch up with the leaders and overrun them. In Sochi, Bjorndalen won his seventh golden Olympic medal! So I think it is fair to call him "The King of Biathlon".

But you should not confuse his name with Bjorn Eriend Daehile, who is forty six now, and he is not competing any more.

A winner of eight golden Olympic medals, he retired and is successful businessman now. He sells sports clothes worldwide under his brand name "Bjorn', which I am wearing during my sports exercises and competitions.

I have already won several medals and prizes in local competitions, as well as my younger sister and dad in their age categories, and look forward to further victories.