Pentathlon
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A pentathlon is a contest featuring five events. The name is derived from Greek: combining the words pente (five) and -athlon (competition). The first pentathlon was documented in Ancient Greece and was part of the Ancient Olympic Games. Five events were contested over one day for the Ancient Olympic pentathlon, starting with the long jump, javelin throwing, and discus throwing, followed by the stadion and wrestling. Pentathletes were considered to be among the most skilled athletes, and their training was often part of military service—each of the five events in the pentathlon was thought to be useful in war or battle.
The pentathlon was first documented in Ancient Greece, and included the discus and javelin throw.
This depiction of an ancient pentathlete dates to the Hellenistic period, ca. the 1st century BCE. Walters Art Museum, Baltimore.
Halteres were held by athletes in the ancient long jump to push themselves further.
All competitors face each other once in the fencing event.
Biathlon
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The biathlon is a winter sport that combines cross-country skiing and rifle shooting. It is treated as a race, with contestants skiing through a cross-country trail whose distance is divided into shooting rounds. The shooting rounds are not timed per se, but depending on the competition, missed shots result in extra distance or time being added to the contestant's total.
Norwegian ski-soldier (Drawing published in 1811).
Transition from downhill at the 2012 World Championships in Kontiolahti
Prone position