Durval Guimarães

In the world of sports shooting Brazil’s Durval Guimarães was a constant presence at international events for more than three decades. Guimarães appeared at nine successive editions of the Pan American Games from 1963 to 1995, winning eight medals, five World Championships (1970, 1974, 1978, 1982, 1993), and five consecutive Olympic Games from 1968 to 1984. At the Pan American Games he won two silver medals and six bronze, with his best Olympic performance coming at the 1976 Montréal Games when he finished ninth in the 50 metres small-bore rifle. Guimarães excelled with both pistol and rifle, winning three Pan Am medals in small-bore rifle shooting, and five in pistol shooting. He also won 38 national titles and more than 70 titles in São Paulo, along with setting multiple South American records.

In 1994 Guimarães co-founded the Associação Desportiva Durval Guimarães, which had the aim of promoting Olympic shooting. Also in 1994 he became the President of the Brazilian Shooting Sports Confederation, serving in the role until 2007.