Lena Schoneborn

DOB: 11/4/1986 Event: Modern Pentathlon Medals: 1 gold Flag: GER

Lena Schoneborn was something of a surprise gold medallist in Beijing, but she will be one of the favourites in London given her hot streak since 2008. Schoneborn was always a lover of sport as a youngster, but took her time to finally settle on modern pentathlon after trying gymnastics, athletics, swimming and tennis. Her first taste of pentathlon came when linking up with specialist coach Kersten Palmer in 2000, which led to her first fencing and horse riding lessons coming in the next year. Having only fenced and ridden for eight years, she then went on to capture the gold medal at the Beijing Olympics but has since gone from strength to strength. Following her surprise success in Beijing, Schoneborn picked up bronze in the following year's World Championship in London, along with a team gold and relay silver. A World Cup final win in Moscow in 2010 was followed by silver in the European Championships and another World Championship bronze in China. 2011 burst into life for Schoneborn in London though, as she won the World Cup final which also doubled up as the test event for the Olympic venue - a result which will give her huge confidence at London 2012. Schoneborn then followed up by claiming her maiden European Championship title in Kent, and that major title signified that she was not just a one-hit wonder in Beijing and will be in and around the medals come 2012.