Leonid Ekimov

Sport: Shooting

Nation: Russian Federation

DOB: September 13, 1987

Hometown: Novodvinsk

Career Highlights: A star at the junior level, Ekimov was picked to replace former gold medalist Sergei Alifirenko shortly before the Beijing Games and just missed reaching the podium for Russia in a pair of events. Ekimov came in fourth in the 25-meter rapid fire pistol and fifth in the 10-meter air pistol in 2008 after Alifirenko came down with an eye illness. Ekimov enters the London Games with some experience and that could make him one of the top medal contenders. He won a world championship in 2010 and has claimed a pair of gold medals in the World Cup final, winning the rapid fire pistol in 2010 and the 10-meter event in 2011. He's reached the podium 10 times in World Cup competition with three gold medals. As a junior competitor, Ekimov won a world championship in 2006 and claimed seven European titles.

Olympic History: 2008