Famous Athletes from Russia

Updated June 15, 2019 35.0K views 2,209 items

List of famous athletes from Russia, listed alphabetically with photos when available. Russia has seen some very talented athletes over the years, many of who have gone on to represent their country in the Olympics. These are some of the best Russian athletes of all time, so if you're a native of Russia and are aspiring to compete in sports professionally then these are people you should look up to. If you're searching for a particular popular athlete from Russia then you can use the "search" box to find who you're looking for.

With athletes ranging from Alla Kudryavtseva to Yelena Välbe, this is a great starting point for a list of your favorites.

This list answers the questions, "Who are the greatest Russian athletes?" and "Which athletes are from Russia?"

You can click on the names of these legendary athletes of Russia in order to get more information about each one.

Alexei Smirnov
Alexei Sergeevich Smirnov (born January 28, 1982) is a Russian former professional ice hockey player.
Aleksandr Marenich
FC Moskva
Aleksandr Igorevich Marenich (Russian: Александр Игоревич Маренич, born 29 April 1989) is a former Russian professional footballer.
Alexander Kudryavtsev
Alexander Mikhailovich Kudryavtsev (Russian: Алекса́ндр Миха́йлович Кудря́вцев; born 26 October 1985) is a Russian professional tennis player who has played professionally since 2003. He made his breakthrough in 2008, playing in his first top-level international tournaments on the ATP tour, having spent time playing at the ATP Challenger Tour and Futures events. He reached his career-high singles ranking of 117 on 2 February 2015 and career-high doubles ranking of 70 on 7 November 2011.
Andrei Kobenko
FC Terek Grozny
Andrei Vasilyevich Kobenko (Russian: Андрей Васильевич Кобенко) (born 25 June 1982) is a Russian footballer who last played for FC SKChF Sevastopol. He is a younger brother of Aleksandr Kobenko.
Aleksandr Balandin
Aleksandr Sergeyevich Balandin (Russian: Александр Сергеевич Баландин, born 20 June 1989) is a retired Russian gymnast. He is known for his work on the rings and has three skills named after him on this apparatus. He placed fourth in the rings at the 2012 Olympics.
Alexander Selivanov
Alexander Yurievich Selivanov (born March 23, 1971) is a former professional ice hockey left winger who has played in the NHL and also in various European leagues. He quit playing after season 2011-2012. He is currently coaching Admiral Vladivostok of the KHL.
Aleksei Aravin
FC Volga Nizhny Novgorod
Aleksei Aleksandrovich Aravin (Russian: Алексей Александрович Аравин; born 9 July 1986) is a Russian professional footballer. He plays for FC Luch Vladivostok.
Aleksei Gulo
Aleksei Gulo (Russian: Алексей Гуло; born October 15, 1973) is a retired Russian professional footballer who played as a defender. He made 61 appearances in the Veikkausliiga for Kotkan Työväen Palloilijat and also played for Metallurg Pikalyovo, Kuusankoski, KooTeePee and Rakuunat. He served time in prison after being found guilty of smuggling alcohol and cigarettes from Russia in 2003.
Alexei Yegorov
Alexei Yurievich Yegorov (May 21, 1975 – March 2, 2002) was a Russian professional ice hockey right winger.
Pavel Podkolzin
Pavel Nikolaevitch Podkolzin (Russian: Павел Николаевич Подкользин) (born January 15, 1985) is a Russian professional basketball player for Universitet Yugra Surgut of the Russian Basketball Super League 1. Formerly, he played in the NBA and the NBA Development League. He is a 2.26 m (7 ft 5 in) tall center.

Andrei Konovalov
FC SKA-Energia Khabarovsk
Andrei Stepanovich Konovalov (Russian: Андрей Степанович Коновалов; born 13 September 1974 in Chelyabinsk) is a Russian professional football coach and a former player. He currently works as an assistant manager with the Russia national under-21 football team. He made his debut in the Russian Premier League in 1993 for FC Spartak Moscow.He is a brother of Yuriy Konovalov.
Denis Yachmenev
Denis Yachmenev (born 6 April 1984 in Chelyabinsk, Russia) is an ice hockey player. He was drafted by the North Bay Centennials in the 1st Round (26th overall) of the 2001 CHL Import Draft.
Andrei Sergeyevich Semyonov
Andrei Sergeyevich Semyonov (Russian: Андрей Серге́евич Семёнов, IPA: [ɐnˈdrʲej sʲɪrˈgʲe(j)ɪvʲɪtɕ sʲɪˈmʲɵnəf]; born 24 March 1989) is a Russian professional football player. He plays as a centre-back for Akhmat Grozny.
Roman Karmazin
Roman Alexandrovich Karmazin (born January 2, 1973 in Kuznetsk) is the former IBF Light Middleweight champion of the world. He is a Russian boxer who has defeated Keith Holmes and Kassim Ouma. He suffered his first loss in 2002, a twelve-round decision against Javier Castillejo of Spain in Castiliejo's hometown. Karmazin currently has 40 wins, 26 by way of knockout, with two losses. His only draw came early in his career in an eight-round fight against Javier Manuel Martinez in Avilés, Spain. Karmazin also has a no-contest against former title contender Jason Papillion. The 2004 bout was halted when Papillion was cut by an accidental headbutt in the fourth round. In 2004, Karmazin outworked Keith Holmes to a majority decision in an IBF title eliminator. A consistent puncher, Karmazin won the IBF Light Middleweight championship through steady work that led to a lopsided unanimous decision over Ouma. On July 8, 2006, nearly a year after his last fight, Karmazin lost his title to Cory Spinks. Karmazin's corner includes world-class trainer Freddie Roach.
Valery Brudov
Valery Brudov (Russian: Валерий Александрович Брудов; born November 27, 1976) in Pskov, Russia is a professional boxer. He held the WBA interim world cruiserweight title from 2006 until 2007, and challenged twice for the undisputed version of that title in 2006 and 2010. He also challenged once for the interim WBO cruiserweight title in 2012.
Zaur Kaziev
FC Sheksna Cherepovets
Zaur Mauladinovich Kaziev (Russian: Заур Мауладинович Казиев) (born 30 August 1983) is a Russian footballer. He last played for FC TSK Simferopol.
Andrei Vasilyev
Andrei Vasilyev may refer to: Andrei Vasilyev (ice hockey) (born 1972), Russian ice hockey player Andrei Vasilyev (footballer) (born 1992), Russian footballer
Vladimir Rzhevsky
FC Krylya Sovetov Samara
Vladimir Petrovich Rzhevsky (Russian: Владимир Петрович Ржевский; born July 19, 1987 in Zheleznovodsk, Soviet Union) is a former Russian footballer who last played for FC Krylia Sovetov Samara in the Russian Premier League.
Çamsulvara Çamsulvarayev
Chamsulvara Chamsulvarayev (September 6, 1984 – September 28, 2016) was a male freestyle wrestler from Azerbaijan. He was born in Sergokalinsky, Dagestan, Russia.
Andrei Vasyanovich
FC Moskva
Andrei Aleksandrovich Vasyanovich (Russian: Андрей Александрович Васянович; born 13 June 1988) is a Russian professional footballer.

Ivan Novoseltsev
Ivan Petrovich Novoseltsev (born January 23, 1979) is a Russian former professional ice hockey winger. He is the uncle of Vladislav Namestnikov.
Aleksandr Alkhazov
FC Krylya Sovetov Samara
Aleksandr Nikolayevich Alkhazov (Russian: Александр Николаевич Алхазов; born 27 May 1984) is a Russian Assyrian professional footballer of Assyrian ethnic origin. He plays for FC Olimp Khimki.
Artem Chubarov
Artyom Andreyevich "Artemis" Chubarov (Russian: Артём Андреевич Чубаров) (born December 13, 1979) is a Russian former professional ice hockey player. He last played with HC Dynamo Moscow of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). He also played for the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League (NHL) and for their minor league affiliates in both the International Hockey League and American Hockey League.
Aleksandr Burakov
FC Fakel Voronezh
Aleksandr Sergeyevich Burakov (Russian: Александр Серге́евич Бураков; born 27 August 1987) is a former Russian professional footballer.
Maxim Pestushko
Maxim Pestushko (born (1985-02-09)February 9, 1985) is a Russia professional ice hockey player currently playing within the Ak Bars Kazan organization in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). He previously played for HC Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk, HC Dynamo Moscow, Avangard Omsk, HC Yugra and the Severstal Cherepovets in the KHL.
Andrei Lozhkin
FC KAMAZ Naberezhnye Chelny
Andrei Viktorovich Lozhkin (Russian: Андрей Викторович Ложкин; born 11 July 1984) is a Russian professional footballer. He made his professional debut in the Russian Second Division in 2000 for FC Dynamo Izhevsk. He last played for FC Zenit-Izhevsk Izhevsk.
Andrei Lukanchenkov
PFC Spartak Nalchik
Andrei Semyonovich Lukanchenkov (Russian: Андрей Семёнович Луканченков; born 7 February 1986) is a Russian professional footballer. He plays for FC Dynamo Bryansk.
Viktor Ivanov
Viktor Petrovich Ivanov (Russian: Виктор Петрович Иванов, born May 12, 1950, Novgorod, Soviet Union) is a Russian politician and businessman, former KGB officer, who served in the KGB Directorate of Leningrad and its successors in 1977–1994. He was the director of The Federal Narcotics Service of Russia from 2008 until 2016. In 1987–1988 as a KGB officer he took part in the Soviet–Afghan War.In December 1990 together with Boris Gryzlov and Valentin Chuykin he founded the small-scale enterprise Blok engaged in various businesses and became its director. In October 1994 he resigned from FSK and was appointed Chief of the Administrative Staff of the Saint Petersburg Mayor Office. In 1999 he succeeded Nikolai Patrushev as the head of the Internal Security Department of Russia's FSB. Since January 5, 2000, he has been a Deputy Head of the Presidential Staff for personnel appointed by Vladimir Putin. Viktor Ivanov is considered one of Putin's closest allies. In September 2001 Russia's prime minister appointed Ivanov representative of the state in the boards of directors of the Antei Corporation and Almaz Scientific Industrial Corporation, developing and producing air defence systems, including S-300. On November 22, 2001, he was elected chairman of the board of directors of Almaz and initiated the merger of Almaz and Antei. Since June 2002 Ivanov has been the chairman of the board of directors of the result of the merger, OJSC Almaz-Antei Air Defense Concern. Since November 4, 2004, he has also been the chairman of the board of directors of JSC Aeroflot airline.
Albert Hovakimyan
Aleksandr Cherkes
Aleksandr Alekseyevich Cherkes (Russian: Александр Алексеевич Черкес; born 2 September 1976) is a Russian football coach and a former player. He works as an assistant coach for the Under-21 squad of FC Rostov.