Russia first participated in the summer Olympics from 1896 until 1912, and resumed as an independent nation beginning with the 1996 Atlanta games. During those times, Russian athletes have won a total of 325 medals, including 109 gold medals.
Swimmer Aleksandr Popov is among five Russian athletes that have won four gold medals each in the summer games, the most gold medals won individually by a Russian athlete in the summer games. Popov (pictured) won four gold medals in two different races-in the men's 50m freestyle at Barcelona 1992 and Atlanta 1996 and in the men's 100m freestyle at Barcelona 1992 and Atlanta 1996.
Fencer Stanislav Pozdnyakov won four gold medals; three in the men's team sabre at Barcelona 1992, Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2000 and in the men's individual sabre at Atlanta 1996. Gymnast Aleksey Nemov won four gold medals; two at Atlanta 1996 in the men's team all-around and horse vault, and two at Sydney 2000 in the men's individual all around and horizontal bar.
The synchronized swimming duo Anastasiya Davydova and Anastasiya Yermakova both won in the women's duet at Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008, and in the team class at Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008.
Alexsandr Karelin (pictured), one of the most decorated Olympic wrestlers ever, is among five Russian athletes to win three gold medals in the summer games.
- Alexsandr Karelin (wrestling)
- Sergey Kharkhov (gymnastics)
- Buvaisa Saytiev (wrestling)
- Olga Brusnikina (synchronized swimming)
- Mariya Kiselyova (synchronzed swimming)
Some of Russia's most recent successes in the summer games have happened on the tennis court. At Sydney 2000, Yefgeny Kafelnikov defeated Tommy Haas (GER) to win singles gold, and at Beijing 2008, Elena Dementieva (pictured) defeated fellow Russian (and former world number 1) Dinara Safina to win singles gold.
At the team level, men's handball defeated Sweden in the final to win gold at Sydney 2000.
As of now, 320 Russian athletes are headed to London and will compete in 22 events, including athletics, swimming, wrestling, taekwondo, boxing, weightlifting, cycling, equestrian, and triathlon. In addition, women's basketball, men's volleyball, and women's water polo has also qualified for the summer games as well.
Up next: Rwanda
No comments:
Post a Comment