(NEXSTAR) - Tim Burke, a four-time Olympian from Lake Placid, N.Y., is working to elevate the sport of biathlon in the United States as the director of athlete development for U.S. Biathlon. Burke's journey in biathlon began at the young age of 12, where he became captivated by the unique combination of cross-country skiing and rifle marksmanship. Despite the U.S. never medaling in biathlon at the Winter Games, Burke aims to inspire the next generation of athletes and increase the sport's visibility and popularity. "I was really drawn to biathlon right away," Burke said during an interview ahead of the 2026 games. "I get to ski and shoot things? This is fantastic." His passion for the sport pushed him to compete in four Olympic Games, where he demonstrated his experience with both aspects of the sport. "It's trying to find that balance, that challenge of skiing as fast as you can while still … having your composure to hit those small targets during the race," he explained. "I had certainly made a lot of mistakes, had done a few things right … and I wanted to take those experiences I had as an athlete and bring that back to that next generation of athletes." Burke highlighted the increased opportunities for young athletes: "The opportunities we have for developing athletes coming up today are … way more at a higher level than when I was a kid." Looking toward the future, Burke expressed hope for the U.S. biathlon team, and particularly for Campbell Wright, who won two silver medals at the World Championships."I think if we can get through that and win that Olympic medal, it'll be a very big story for the sport and hopefully draw more fans and athletes into the sport." Burke also pointed out the vibrant culture of biathlon in Europe, emphasizing the need for similar recognition in the U.S."When you go to a World Cup event … you have 20,000, 30,000 fans there watching the events. The athletes over there are, they're stars. They are sports stars. I would love for our athletes at home to get some of that recognition as well." Success by U.S. athletes at the next Winter Olympics in Italy could mark a turning point for biathlon in the country, as Burke anticipates that achieving a medal would increase the sport's popularity and recognition. Burke continues to work closely with aspiring athletes, aiming to pass on his expertise and help them achieve their competitive goals. All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by Nexstar. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat from a broadcast script into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by Nexstar staff before being published.