Michal Martikan

Sport: Canoeing

Nation: Slovakia

DOB: May 18, 1979

Hometown: Liptovsky Mikulas

Career Highlights: Ever since winning the World Cup at a 16-year-old, Martikan has been a fixture among the world's elite canoeists. Martikan followed up his surprising victory by becoming Slovakia's first gold medalist in 1996 in Atlanta at age 17, and he hasn't let up since. He took silver in Sydney in 2000 behind France's Tony Estanguet and appeared to reclaim gold in 2004. A review showed Martikan should've received a two-second penalty, giving Estanguet consecutive golds. Martikan left no doubt in Beijing four years ago on his way to his second gold. Martikan is a four-time European champion and one of the most experienced and accomplished canoeists in the world, and he's poised to win yet another Olympic gold.

Olympic History: 2008,2004,2000,1996