Daniel Durben was a rifle shooter who competed in both small-bore and air rifle. He graduated from Eastern Kentucky University in 1982 with a degree in chemistry. Durben competed at the 1987 Pan American Games, winning a silver medal in team air rifle and a bronze medal in team prone small-bore rifle. He won a silver medal in team air rifle at the 1987 World Championships, and was second in the individual air rifle event. Durben was 1987 US Champion in both air rifle and small-bore rifle. His parents worked for USA Biathlon and he started in that sport, but switched to shooting to help him earn a college scholarship to Eastern Kentucky. He later studied physics and became a professor of physics at Black Hills State University in Spearfish, South Dakota.