Irek Zaripov

Irek Airatowitsch Saripow (Russian Ирек Айратович Зарипов; born March 27, 1983 in Sterlitamak, Bashkir Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic ) is a Russian biathlete and cross-country skiers. With four gold medals and one silver medal, he was one of the most successful participants in the Winter Paralympics 2010.

Biography

Saripow lost his legs in a traffic accident in 2000. With the support of the coach Irina Gromova he began with the performance skiing 2005. 2007 he won the Cross Country World Cup of the International Paralympic Committee with eight wins and finished second at the Biathlon World Cup. In the season 2007/ 08 of the Nordic Ski World Cup, he won both the long - run as well as the Biathlon Trophy.

In 2010, Saripow part in the Winter Paralympics in Vancouver and won a total of four gold and one silver medal. He was thus one of the four most successful participants of the event and shared with the German participants Gerd Schoenfelder third place in the medal table.