Sergey Chepikov

During his long career, which lasted nearly 20 years, Sergey Chepikov competed in both biathlon and cross-country skiing. Chepikov started as a biathlete and was successful at his first major international, the 1988 Winter Olympics, where he won a bronze in the 10 km and gold in the relay. At the next two Winter Olympics, Chepikov won one gold (1994 in 10 km) and two silvers (1992 and 1994 in the relay). Between 1988 and 1993 Chepikov also competed at every World Championships in biathlon and won one gold (1989 in team event), five silvers (1989, 1991 and 1993 in the relay, 1990 in 20 km and in 1993 in team event) and three bronzes (1990 in 10 km, 1991 in the team event and 1993 in 20 km). Chepikov also won two World Cup titles in a row, in 1989-90 and 1990-91, and in 1988-89 won a World Cup bronze. After the 1994 Olympics, Chepikov decided to quit biathlon and took up cross-country skiing. He competed in cross-country at the 1998 Winter Olympics and 1995, 1997 and 1999 World Cross-country Championships, but with less success, his best place being fourth in 1997 with the Russian relay team. At the start of the 2000s Chepikov switched back to biathlon and won one gold (2006 in mixed relay) and four silvers (2003 in relay and in 2005 in 12.5 km pursuit, relay and mixed relay) at the World Championships. He also won silver at the 2006 Winter Olympics in the relay. Chepikov ended his sporting career in March 2007 and in 2008 was elected to the Sverdlovsk Oblast Duma. He is married to biathlete Yelena Melnikova, a bronze medalist at the 1992 Winter Olympics in the relay.