INTRODUCTION: In biathlon athletes and coaches, there is a consensus that poor trigger control increases rifle motion, making it more challenging to hit the target. However, experimental evidence on the relationship between trigger behaviour and rifle motion or shooting performance remains inconclusive 1,2 . Previous studies using mean values for each biathlete and variable may have produced misleading results due to inter-individual differences 3. Here, we use a statistical approach that includes each shot to account for intra-individual differences to provide a more nuanced and practical interpretation of trigger behaviour`s impact on performance. METHODS: Twenty-two Austrian biathletes (8 females, 14 males, World-, European and federal Youth Squad) fired three clips of five shots in prone and standing positions before they fired two more series during a simulated 12.5-kilometre roller ski pursuit race on the World Cup Track in Hochfilzen, using their rifles, personal shooting positions and firing rhythms. We did not consider sex differences, as there were no shooting result differences between males and females 4. We measured trigger behaviour using a strain gauge force transducer and rifle motion by an infrared system while calculating (offline) an associated trigger index [sqrt (RMSE/mean²) x slope of the regression line] as well as the total mean velocity [sqrt(x²+z²)] of the gun. A computer-controlled display system recorded shooting scores 2. Linear relationships between trigger index and rifle motion or shooting performance were quantified using repeated measures correlations (rmcorr) 3 for each position and the conditions rest and after physical load separately. RESULTS: There was a low overall repeated measures correlation between the trigger coefficient and shooting performance in the prone position after physical load (r² = 3.0%; 95%CI = 0.03 to 0.31). In standing rest shooting, there was a slightly negative correlation between mean rifle motion velocity and shooting performance (r² = 6.7%; 95%CI = -0.36 to -0.15). No further correlations were found. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION: The importance of trigger behaviour on shooting performance in highly trained biathletes may be overstated. Our study found low overall correlations between trigger behaviour and shooting performance across prone and standing positions, at rest and after physical load, suggesting that the variation in trigger control observed in these athletes is already sufficiently high. However, it is unclear whether optimal trigger control is more critical for less experienced biathletes. Further research is needed to determine its impact on their shooting performance and the need to learn this skill. REFERENCES: 1 Köykkä, M. et al., 2021. Scand J Med Sci Sports 2 Sattlecker, G. et al., 2017. Int J Sports Physiol Perform 3 Bakdash, J.Z. & Marusich, L.R., 2017. Front Physiol 4 IBU, Shooting Database, http://www.biathlonworld.com, 2016
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