Russian Federation

Highlights

Russians first appeared at the 1900 Games in Paris, competing in equestrian and fencing.

Their first gold medal came at the 1908 Olympic Games in London, when Nikolai PANIN KOLOMENKIN won gold in the men's figure skating for special figures.

A Russian team competed at the Stockholm 1912 Olympic Games but did not appear again as an independent nation until 1992 when they competed as part of the Unified team.

In the new era they have competed in all the Olympic sports. In athletics, Yelena ISINBAYEVA won back-to-back gold medals in 2004 and 2008 in women's pole vault.

Svetlana MASTERKOVA achieved the women's 800m/1500m double at the Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games.

Triple jumper Tatiana LEBEDEVA collected medals at five successive Olympic Games, including a gold in 2004.

Fencer Stanislav POZDNYAKOV was a dominant force in the men's sabre. He won individual gold in 1996 and team gold in 1992, 1996 and 2000.

In gymnastics, Aleksey NEMOV continued a great tradition. He won four gold medals in a career that spanned three Olympic Games from 1996 to 2004. He also collected two silver medals and six bronze medals to end his Olympic career with 12 medals.

Svetlana KHORKINA took gold on the uneven bars in 1996 and 2000. Her final medal tally included four silver medals and a bronze.

Alexander POPOV is Russia's most successful competitor in swimming. He won gold in the 50m and 100m freestyle in 1992 and 1996, and also collected five silver medals. He later became a member of the IOC.

Buvaisa Khamidovich SAYTIYEV won gold medals in men's freestyle middleweight in 1996, 2004 and 2008, and is Russia's most successful wrestler.

Moscow was host city for the 1980 Olympic Games and Sochi will host the 2014 Winter Olympic Games.

Russians competed as part of the USSR team from 1952 to 1988. They enjoyed most success in gymnastics. Nikolai Adrianov won seven gold medals between 1972 and 1980 Aleksandr Nikolayevich Dityatin won a medal in each event at the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow, including three golds.

Vladimir Artyomov took the individual all around title in 1988, one of four gold medals he won at the Games. Lyudmila Ivanovna Turishcheva won the women's individual all around title in 1972 and was a member of the victorious Soviet team in three Olympic Games from 1968 to 1976.

In athletics, Tatyana Kazankina did the women's 800m/1500m double at the 1976 Games and went on to retain her 1500m title in 1980.

Weightlifter Vasili Alekseyev won successive golds in the super heavyweight division in 1972 and 1976.

Pavel Ledneyev won seven medals in modern pentathlon, including team gold in 1972 and 1980.

Anthem: Title

Gimn Rossiyskaya Federatsiya (Hymn of the Russian Federation)

Anthem: Year of Induction

2001

Anthem: Composer

Music Alexandr Vasilievich ALEXANDROV, words Sergei Vladimirovich MIKHALKOV

Official NOC name

Russia

IOC recognition date

1993

NOC President's name

Mr Alexander ZHUKOV

NOC General Secretary's name

Mr Marat BARIEV

IOC Member's Name

Mr Alexander POPOV, Mr Shamil TARPISCHEV, Mr Vitaly SMIRNOV

Year of first appearance in an Olympic Games

1996

Number of appearances in Olympic Games

5, including London 2012

Summary of Olympic Games Appearances