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Following a motorcycle accident aged 17, which saw Zaripov lose both legs, his parents encouraged him to get involved in sport.
In 2005 he made his international debut at a competition in Italy and a year later took part in four events at the Torino Paralympic Winter Games. Although he did not medal in any of the events, a respectable fourth place finish in the 7.5 km Biathlon competition showed a bright future lay ahead.
Four years later in Vancouver and Zaripov was one of the stars of the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games winning four gold medals and one silver.
He took gold in both the 2.4km Pursuit and 12.5 km Individual Biathlon sitting events and was also took top spot in the 10km and 15km Cross Country Skiing sitting races. Silver came in the Cross Country Sprint event.
On his return to Russia he was presented with the Order of Merit from then Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and made an ambassador for the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games.
In 2012 he was shortlisted for the Laureus World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability after winning six medals at the 2011 IPC Biathlon and Cross Country Skiing World Championships held in Khanty Mansiysk, Russia.
On homesoil he claimed three gold medals, two silver and one bronze underlining his credentials as one of the athletes to beat in Sochi.
