The growing rivalry between Polukhin and Canada's seven-time Paralympic champion Brain McKeever is likely to be one of the highlights of Sochi 2014 if previous meetings are anything to go by.
At the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games, the visually impaired Russian took home six most medals, the most of any athlete, including one gold.
In the 1km and 20km Cross Country races he finished second behind McKeever and was pushed down to third in the 10km event again behind McKeever, who took gold, and Norway's silver medalist Helge Flo. He did take Cross Country gold though in the team relay event. The Biathlon events saw him win two silver medals and finish ahead of McKeever in the 3km Pursuit.
His achievements in Vancouver saw him presented with the Russian Order of Friendship upon his return.
McKeever was again Polukhin's nemesis at the 2011 IPC Nordic Skiing World Championships despite them being held in Russia. The Canadian took gold in all three Cross Country events leaving his rival to pick-up silver.
Polukhin did have the pleasure of beating McKeever however in the 12.5km Biathlon, an event McKeever could only win silver in.
