)
At the 1924 Winter Olympics, in Chamonix, France, a military patrol competition was held. The Olympic results database lists the official medal winners for the event, as does the Official Report (1924),[1][2][3] yet several sources have incorrectly counted this competition as a demonstration event only.[4] The event was also demonstrated in 1928, 1936, and 1948, but those results are still considered unofficial. A full 36 years would pass before the modern version of the sport, biathlon, became an official Winter Olympic sport.[nb 1]
The competition was held on Tuesday, January 29, 1924. Six teams started the event, but only four finished with Italy and Poland withdrawing due to bad conditions.
Results
| Place | Biathletes | Adjusted Time [nb 2] | Shots On Target |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Denis Vaucher (Captain), Alfred Aufdenblatten, Antoine Julen, Alfons Julen (SUI) | 3:56:06 | 8 |
| 2 |  Väinö Bremer (Captain), August Eskelinen, Heikki Hirvonen, Ville Mattila (FIN) | 4:00:10 | 11 |
| 3 |  Camille Mandrillon (Captain), Georges Berthet, Maurice Mandrillon, Adrien "André" Vandelle (FRA) | 4:18:53 | 2 |
| 4 |  Karel Buchta (Captain), Josef Bím, Bohuslav Josífek, Jan Mittlöhner (TCH) | 4:19:54 | 5 |
| — | .svg.png){kind=small} Piero Dente (Captain), Goffredo Lagger, Albino Bich, Paolo Francia (ITA) | DNF | |
.svg.png){kind=small} Zbigniew Wóycicki (Captain), Szczepan Witkowski, Stanisław Chrobak, Stanisław Kądziołka (POL) | DNF |
Participating nations
A total of 24 biathletes from six nations competed at the Chamonix Games:
Czechoslovakia (4)
France (4)
Finland (4).svg.png)
Italy (4).svg.png)
Poland (4)
Switzerland (4)
Notes
- ^ The official website of the Olympic Movement designates men's military patrol at the 1924 Games as an event within the sport of biathlon.[5][6] The Official Report of the 1924 Games regards it as an event within the sport of skiing.[1][2]
- ^ The adjusted time was the actual time less 30 seconds for every shot on target. [3]
References
- ^ a b Official Report (1924), p 646: Le Programme ... II. — Epreuves par équipes - 12. Ski : Course militaire (20 à 30 kilomètres, avec tir). (The Programme ... II. — Team events - 12. Skiing : Military Race (20 to 30 kilometres, with shooting)).
- ^ a b Official Report (1924), p 664: CONCOURS DE SKI - Jurys - COURSE MILITAIRE. (Skiing Competitions - Juries - Military Race)
- ^ a b Official Report (1924), pp 701-703: EPREUVE No 139 SKI MILITAIRE (Event Number 139 Military Ski). This gives both the rules and the results of the competition. (Note: It is event Number 139 of the combined Winter and Summer Games, but event Number 12 on the programme of the Winter Games).
- ^ Official Report (1924), pp 618-628: Les démonstrations hors~programme (Demonstrations outside the official programme). This gives a complete account of the demonstration sports. Military Patrol is not among them.
- ^ "Biathlon Results - Chamonix 1924". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 17 February 2014.
- ^ "Olympic Games Medals, Chamonix 1924". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 17 February 2014.
Bibliography
- Official Report (1924) of both Summer and Winter games: (ed.) M. Avé, Comité Olympique Français. Les Jeux de la VIIIe Olympiade Paris 1924 – Rapport Officiel (PDF) (in French). Paris: Librairie de France. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 May 2011. Retrieved 7 May 2011.