Elena Pirozhkova

Sport: Wrestling

Nation: United States of America

DOB: October 13, 1986

Career Highlights: Pirozhkova represents perhaps the best shot for a U.S. female wrestler to take home a medal in London after qualifying for her first Olympics. Born in Novokuznetsk, Russia, Pirozhkova’s family left the country when she was three, eventually settling in Massachusetts, where she attended Greenfield High School and was the 2005 USGWA national champion. Pirozhkova proved she could compete at the senior level, finishing second at the 2010 world championships and fifth at the 2011 worlds. She won three straight gold medals at the Pan American championships from 2008-10, and took silver at that event in 2007. She also won a silver at the Pan American Games last October. Pirozhkova has eight siblings and enjoys drawing, camping and hiking as hobbies. She currently resides at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. Pirozhkova won the 2008 and 2010 World University Championships and also has victories in the Dave Schultz Memorial International in 2009 and this year.

Olympic History: None