Our article “Achievements of russian athletes” will tell about the greatest achievements of both Russian and Soviet athletes.
Since 1948, athletes in Russia returned to big sports, which certainly had an impact on results. Just imagine that at the time the USSR returned, 10% of athletes had results exceeding world records. After our national team was officially invited to the 1952 Olympic Games, the USSR Olympic Committee was established, and we officially returned to the Olympic family.
Russian athletes took part in almost every sport. The debut games were quite successful, the Soviet representatives won 22 gold medals, 30 silver and 19 bronze medals (2nd place in the overall medal standings).
In general, the Soviet Union paid very much attention to sports, which led to tremendous results and achievements. By 1958 40% of world records belonged to domestic athletes. All in all during the Soviet period 473 gold medals, 376 silver and 355 bronze medals were won.
Due to the collapse of the Soviet Union, our athletes at the two Olympics in 1992 performed under the banner of the CIS. And since 1994 the victorious baton was picked up by Russian athletes. Throughout the history of the Russian Olympic Committee (11 Olympic Games) our athletes have won 520 medals, including 182 medals of the highest rank.
If we compare the number of medals per Olympiad under the Russian flag and under the flag of the USSR, we can understand the effectiveness of the performance of the teams. So, the USSR won 1,204 medals in 18 Olympics, an average of 67 medals per game. Under the Russian flag this figure is equal to 47 medals.
To make our calculations correct to the end, we calculate the number of medals of the former Soviet Union countries in the Olympic Games after the collapse of the Union. Uzbekistan 37, Georgia 32, Ukraine 139, Belarus 105, Latvia 30, Estonia 43, Azerbaijan 49, Armenia 18, Kyrgyzstan 7. Total: 460 medals.
It is already evident that Russian athletes achieve more success in sport than all former Soviet countries taken together. If we count per game all the countries of the USSR at the present time, we get a result of 89 medals per Olympic Games. The result is in your face, 67 and 89 medals per game. But here the figure can increase due to the number of medals played, but we can state that the accumulated trend of the USSR remains to this day.
Achievements of russian athletes:
Larisa Semyonovna Latynina, born in 1934. – The absolute record-holder in the number of Olympic medals in gymnastics. She won 18 medals at the Olympic Games, 14 medals at the World Cup and 14 medals at the European Championship.
Larisa Semenovna has the most honorable title for an athlete, the title of absolute champion of the Olympic Games, World Cup, European Championship, is the Honored Master of Sports, Honored Coach and Honored Worker of Physical Culture of the Russian Federation.
Latynina was at the top of the list of multiple Olympic champions for 48 years, but lost the lead to the legendary swimmer Michael Phelps. She is considered the strongest gymnastics Olympian of the 20th century.
Alexander Karelin, born 1967. – this outstanding Greco-Roman wrestler. 888 victories, the title of “Absolute World Champion”, Guinness Book of Records record holder. He was so feared by his opponents that they refused to fight him. He has 27 medals of the highest rank in his collection from the most prestigious competitions (Olympic Games, World Championships, European Championships, World Cup).
Alexander Karelin remained undefeated in Greco-Roman wrestling for 13 years (Guinness record), and for 6 consecutive years he did not concede any points to his opponents.
Towards the end of his athletic career Alexander became involved in the political life of the country as a deputy of the State Duma. He was recognized as the greatest Greco-Roman wrestler of the 20th century. He is a Knight of the Olympic Order.
Galina Prozumenschikova, born in 1948. – an athlete who brought the USSR’s first gold in swimming. The future journalist (she graduated from the Faculty of Journalism of Moscow State University in 1978) repeatedly set world records, and each subsequent record was an improvement of her own result.
Galina was successful in swimming in the breaststroke at a distance of 200 meters. According to the coach, Galina had everything necessary to become the best, an ideal athlete of her kind. After her sports career ended, she worked as a swimming coach at the CSKA school.
Vladimir Valerievich Salnikov, born in 1960. – Another representative of USSR swimming. Vladimir is a representative of freestyle swimming at distances from 400 meters. During his career he has won four Olympic gold medals (1980, 1988), four World Championships (1978, 1982) and five European Championships (1971, 1981, 1983).
Vladimir Salnikov is a true world record holder in swimming. He holds 20 world records, is included in the Swimming Hall of Fame and has been named world’s best swimmer more than once. He is a holder of state awards. Currently heads the All-Russian Swimming Federation.
Yuri Petrovich Vlasov, born in 1935. – is a Russian weightlifter-journalist. Yuri combined both writing and training. One did not interfere with the other, and, moreover, Yuri Vlasov as an athlete was able to reach the highest heights.
He was the Olympic champion (1960, 1964), multiple World Champion (1959-1961) and European Champion (1959-1964). He had achievements in literature, was a prize winner in the field of literary activity, worked as a special correspondent for the Izvestia newspaper, wrote short stories and novels. As they say: “A talented person is talented in everything.
After his sports career he took an active part in political activities. He was a deputy of the USSR and the State Duma of the Russian Federation, he was a presidential candidate in 1996.
He was awarded with the national title “The strongest man of the planet”. He was the idol of Arnold Schwarzenegger. He is also known as the athlete who carried the flag of the USSR delegation on the outstretched arm holding it by the edge of the flagpole at the Olympic Games ceremony. This achievement cannot be repeated by any other athlete.
Lydia Pavlovna Skoblikova, born in 1939. – The greatest athlete in the history of speed skating. Our athlete was unrivaled throughout the 2 Olympics (1960, 1964). On the Olympics in Innsbruck Lydia became an absolute Olympic champion, winning all distances (500, 1000, 1500 and 3000 meters).
For her versatility and invincibility, Lydia was called the “Queen of Skates”. There was also a second nickname – “Ural Lightning”, because of the geographical place of birth (Chelyabinsk region) and the speed with which she ran.
Lidia Skoblikova is a recipient of state awards and the Olympic Order, which she received for special services to the Olympic movement.
Lyubov Ivanovna Egorova, born 1966. – The greatest Soviet skier, who won 9 Olympic medals, 6 of which were of the highest rank. Lyubov is also multiple world champion and winner of the world cup in 1993.
For services to the state and the people Egorova awarded the title of Hero of the Russian Federation, and she is actively engaged in political activities, is a deputy of the city of St. Petersburg.
Lyubov Ivanovna Egorova is among the top 3 women by the number of Olympic gold won, by the way, they share the second place with Lydia Skoblikova. Here they are Russian women, strong, brave and devoted to sports.
Vladislav Alexandrovich Tretiak, born in 1952. – the greatest hockey player of the 20th century, the coach. If we briefly talk about this hockey player, it is easier to quote Anatoly Tarasov’s phrase: “Well, half-finished, shall we work? If you survive, you will be great, and if you don’t survive – sorry, you will go to the mine”. And he became great.
At first Vladislav reached the highest heights as an athlete, we can say, made a name for himself, and then became a political and statesman of the Russian Federation. Repeatedly recognized as the best goalkeeper in the USSR, Europe and the world.
Vladislav Tretiak four times Olympic medalist (3 gold, 1 silver), 13 times World Cup (10 gold, 2 silver, 1 bronze), 13 times European Championship (9 gold, 2 silver, 2 bronze).
According to IIHF (International Ice Hockey Federation) and Russian Ice Hockey Federation he is the best player of the 20th century. He is a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame, IIHF Hall of Fame, and Commander of the Order of Merit for the Fatherland. Since 2006 he has been working as the president of the Russian Ice Hockey Federation.
Anastasia Semyonovna Davydova, born 1983. – A synchronized swimmer who is the embodiment of Russia’s absolute superiority in synchronized swimming. At three Olympic Games (2004, 2008, 2012) she won 5 gold medals, 14-times World Cup medalist (13 gold, 1 silver) and 8-times European Championships medalist (7 gold, 1 silver).
After the London Games, Davydova ended her career of 12 years. In a FINA survey of 202 national federations and sports journalists, she was named the athlete of the 10th anniversary (2000-2009). In 2016, she realized her dream, opened her own synchronized swimming complex in Moscow, where she works as a director. She is the general secretary of the ROC.
Yelena Isinbaeva, born 1982. – is a Russian high pole vaulter. During her sports career Yelena became the 3rd Olympic medalist (2 gold, 1 bronze), the 4th medalist of World Outdoor Championships (3 gold, 1 bronze), the 4th medalist of Indoor Championships (4 gold), World Cup winner (2006), the 2nd medalist of European Outdoor Championships (1 gold, 1 silver) and the 1st medalist of European Indoor Championships (1 gold).
Yelena’s performance tactics at international championships was quite simple. She would warm up with the first jump, take the second gold, and the third was used to set a world record. Everything was as the phrase goes: “I came, I saw, I conquered”. In this way Isinbaeva collected 28 world records. She is an elected member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
Lev Ivanovich Yashin, born in 1929. – The most famous and titled national soccer player. Olympic champion (1956), European champion (1960), multiple champion of the USSR.
Lev Yashin is a national hero for Russia, an idol for many goalkeepers of the planet. His name is given to the annual award that is given to the best goalkeeper of the year in the world. Yashin is the only goalkeeper in soccer history who won the FIFA Golden Ball Award.
Yashin is the recipient of the Olympic Silver Medal and FIFA Gold Medal of Honor. He played twice for the world team and was named the best goalkeeper of all time on more than one occasion.
Irina Konstantinovna Rodnina, born September 12, 1949 in Moscow. Soviet figure skater and the Greatest Athlete of the Century. She won everything and always in pair skating, without losing even once. Three Olympic champion in a row (72, 76, 80), World Championships from 1969 to 1978 (10-times), European Championships from 1969 to 1980 (11-times). Deputy of the State Duma.
Of course, this list is not complete, there are too many athletes to be included in it. Just look at the last Olympic Games in Beijing, where our Alexander Bolshunov became a three-time Olympic champion. Alexey Nemov, Nikolay Andrianov, Larisa Lazutina, Elena Vyalbe, and many others can also add to this list.
