Damir Mikec

Damir Mikec was born on March 31, 1984, in Split, then part of SFR Yugoslavia. He is a Serbian sport shooter who has competed in five consecutive Olympic Games, from Beijing 2008 to Paris 2024. He is a member of the KSS Policajac shooting club in Belgrade.

His paternal ancestors originate from Novo Mesto. Due to his grandfather's service in the Yugoslav People's Army, his father was born in Bitola. His father was also in the military and met his mother, a discus thrower, in Senta. Due to respiratory problems of his older brothers Igor and Goran, the family moved to Split, where Damir was born, for the benefits of the sea air and climate.

Career

After the outbreak of war in Croatia, the family moved to Herceg Novi. Finally, in 1997, they relocated to Petlovo Brdo in Belgrade, where he completed his last year of primary school and started secondary school. After the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia, he began training in shooting sports, encouraged by his mother and coach Srecko Pejovic.

At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, he qualified for the final in the 50m free pistol event and finished 7th. At the 2012 London Games, he arrived as the world's number one ranked shooter. At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, he won the silver medal in the 10m air pistol event, earning Serbia's first medal at those Games.

Olympic Games

Mikec has competed in five consecutive Olympic Games:

Beijing 2008 — 7th place (50m pistol, final), 13th place (10m air pistol)
London 2012 — 17th place (10m air pistol), 16th place (50m pistol)
Rio de Janeiro 2016 — competed in both events
Tokyo 2020 — silver medal (10m air pistol), 4th place (10m air pistol, mixed team)
Paris 2024 — gold medal (10m air pistol mixed team with Zorana Arunovic), 7th place (10m air pistol, individual)

International Results

Throughout his career, he has won a total of 82 medals at major international competitions. World champion in the 50m pistol event (Cairo 2022), multiple World Cup and World Cup Final winner. European champion on several occasions, including gold in air pistol at the 2023 European Championship in Tallinn, which secured Serbia's Olympic quota for the Paris Games. Double champion at the 2015 European Games in Baku.

Discipline

Mikec has competed in three main pistol disciplines: 10m air pistol (individual and mixed team), 50m free pistol, and 50m pistol team. The 10-meter air pistol is an Olympic discipline in which the shooter fires 60 shots in 75 minutes, aiming at a target 17 millimeters in diameter. The discipline requires exceptional concentration, breath control, and hand stability.

Private Life

Damir Mikec lives in Belgrade. Beyond his sporting career, he is known for the dedication and discipline he carries beyond the shooting range. His older brother Igor was also involved in sports.

Basic Information