- Ayn Rand
Ayn Rand (March 6 1982), born Alisa Zinov'yevna Rosenbaum, was a Russian-born American novelist and philosopher, best known for creating a philosophy she named "Objectivism" and for writing the novels "We the Living," "The Fountainhead," "Atlas Shrugged" and the novella "Anthem." Her influential and controversial ideas have attracted both enthusiastic admiration and scathing denunciation. <br
- Elena Dementieva
Elena Vyacheslavovna Dementieva (pronounced: L-e-nuh de-MENT-ye-vuh Russian:); born October 15, 1981, Moscow), is a professional tennis player from Russia.
- Yelena Isinbayeva
Yelena Gadschiyevna Isinbayeva is a Russian pole vaulter. She won the 2004 Olympic Gold Medal with a new World Record (then 4.91 m), was elected Female Athlete of the Year by the IAAF twice (2004 and 2005), and Sportswoman of the Year by Laureus, and has set 20 world records. On July 22, 2005, she became the first female pole vaulter to clear 5.00 metres. At the age of 25 she is seen as the best female pole vaulter in history.
- Alina Kabaeva
Alina Kabaeva. She is a rhythmic gymnast from Russia. Kabaeva is known for her extreme natural flexibility. She stands at 1.66m (5'4) and weighs 48kg (106lbs). Alina is Russia's most successful rhythmic gymnast to date, and is also one of the most decorated gymnasts in the history of rhythmic gymnastics. Kabaeva started rhythmic gymnastics in Tashkent, Uzbekistan in 1987 at age 4. Her first coach was A. Malkina.
- Ilya Kovalchuk
Ilya Valeryevich Kovalchuk (Russian: Илья Валерьевич Ковальчук, Il'ja Valer'jevič Kovalčuk; born April 15, 1983, in Tver, U.S.S.R.) is a professional ice hockey winger who currently plays for the Atlanta Thrashers of the National Hockey League.
- Vladimir Bukovsky
Vladimir Konstantinovich Bukovsky (b. December 30 1942) is a notable former Soviet political dissident, author and an activist. He was one of the first to expose the use of psychiatric imprisonment against political prisoners in the USSR. He spent a total of twelve years in Soviet prisons, labor camps and in psikhushkas, forced-treatment psychiatric hospitals used by the regime as special prisons.
- Pavel Datsyuk
Pavel Datsyuk (born July 20 1978, in Sverdlovsk, USSR (now Yekaterinburg, Russia) is a Russian-born professional ice hockey player currently playing for the Detroit Red Wings. He is known for silent, but humble demeanor.
- Sergei Gonchar
Sergei Gonchar (Сергей Гончар, "Sergej Gončar"; born 13 April 1974 in Chelyabinsk, Soviet Union now Russia) is a Russian ice hockey player who currently plays in the NHL. He was drafted by the Washington Capitals in the 1st round of the 1992 NHL Entry Draft as the 14th overall selection. On 3 March 2004 Gonchar was traded to the Boston Bruins for Shaone Morrisonn and two draft picks in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft.
- Irina Slutskaya
Irina Eduardovna Slutskaya (born February 9, 1979) is a Russian figure skater. She is a two-time World Champion, seven-time European Champion, two-time Olympic medalist, and four-time Grand Prix Final Champion. Slutskaya, known for her athletic ability, was the first female skater to land a triple lutz-triple loop combination. She is also known for her trademark double Biellmann spin with a foot change, which she also invented.
- Evgeni Plushenko
Evgeni Viktorovich Plushenko, or Yevgeny Viktorovich Plyushchenko (born November 3, 1982 in Solnechny, Khabarovsk Krai, Soviet Union (Russia) is a Russian figure skater, the seven-time National Champion, five-time European Champion, three-time World Champion, 2006 Winter Olympics gold medalist, and four-time Grand Prix Final gold medalist.
- Sultan Ibragimov
Sultan Ibragimov (born March 8 1975, Kaspiysk, Dagestan) is a Russian heavyweight boxer of Dagestani descent. Ibragimov, real name Sultanahmed Ibzagimov is currently the WBO Heavyweight Champion, and as of April 23, 2006 he is ranked #5 in the IBF and #9 in the WBA. He is trained by Jeff Mayweather.
- Alexei Yashin
Alexei Valeryevich Yashin is a professional hockey player who is currently a free agent, born in Sverdlovsk, USSR, now Yekaterinburg, Russia, on November 5, 1973. He gained his initial fame after being the first ever draft pick of the expansion Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League (2nd overall in the 1992 NHL Entry Draft).
- Eugene Mirman
Eugene Boris Mirman is a Russian-born American comedian, writer, and film maker, who is based in New York City. Mirman attended Lexington High School in Lexington, MA, and later Hampshire College in Western Massachusetts. Mirman has appeared on several TV shows, including Late Night With Conan O'Brien, Comedy Central's Premium Blend and Jump Cuts, VH1, Third Watch, Cartoon Network's Home Movies, Cheap Seats, HBO's Flight of the Conchords and more.
- Yevgeny Kafelnikov
Yevgeny Aleksandrovich Kafelnikov (born 18 February, 1974;, "yev-GHE-neey KAH-fill-nee-coff") is a former World No. 1 tennis player from Russia. During his career, he won two Grand Slam singles titles (one French Open and one Australian Open), four Grand Slam doubles titles, and the men's singles Gold Medal at the Olympic Games
- Alexei Yagudin
Alexei Konstantinovich Yagudin is a Russian figure skater. Yagudin was the 2002 Olympic champion as well as a four-time World Champion, a two-time World Professional Figure Skating Champion, a three-time European Champion, and three-time Grand Prix Final gold medalist.
- Anton Sikharulidze
Anton Tarielyevich Sikharulidze was born October 25, 1976. He is a Russian pairs figure skater, currently professional and partnered with Yelena Berezhnaya. With Berezhnaya, he won a silver medal at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano and a gold medal at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. This gold was later shared with Canadian pair Jamie Salé and David Pelletier after much controversy regarding the judging of the long program of that competition.
- Igor Larionov
Igor Nikolayevich Larionov is a retired Russian ice hockey player. Along with Viacheslav Fetisov, he was instrumental in breaking the barrier that stopped Soviet players from joining the NHL. He primarily played the center position, and is considered one of the best passers of all time.
- Alexei Kovalev
Alexei "Alex" Kovalev (Russian:Алексей Ковалёв, "Aleksei Kovaliov"; born February 24, 1973, in Togliatti, U.S.S.R. [now Russia]) is a Russian professional ice hockey player in the NHL currently playing with the Montreal Canadiens as a right winger. He has also been a licensed aircraft pilot for several years.
- Maxim Afinogenov
Maxim Sergeyevich Afinogenov ("Maksim Sergejevič Afinogenov", ; born September 4, 1979 in Moscow, USSR; now Russia) is a professional ice hockey player.
- Alexei Zhamnov
Alexei Zhamnov is a retired Russian professional ice hockey player.
- Alexander Povetkin
Alexander Povetkin (born in Kursk, Russia on September 2, 1979) is a Russian boxer. His height is 6' 2" (188 centimeters). Because of his amateur success, as well as his early pro accomplishments, he is seen as the leading prospect in boxing's Heavyweight division.
- Alexander Karelin
Alexandr Alexandrovich Karelin Ph.D, or simply Alexander Karelin, (Russian: Александр Александрович Карелин; born September 19, 1967 in Novosibirsk, Russian SFSR) was a dominant Greco-Roman wrestler for the Soviet Union and later, after its dissolution, for Russia. He won gold medals at the 1988, 1992, and 1996 Olympic Games. Nicknamed the "Russian Dan Gable," he went undefeated in international competition from 1987 until 2000, …
- Darius Kasparaitis
Darius Kasparaitis is an ethnic Lithuanian-Russian professional ice hockey defenceman, also known by the nickname "Kaspar". He has Russian citizenship and plays for the Russian national hockey team.
- Tatyana Lebedeva
Tatyana Lebedeva (born July 21, 1976 in Volgograd) is a Russian athlete who competes on the world stage in both the long jump and triple jump disciplines. In the finals of the 2004 World Indoor Championships, after equalling Ashia Hansen's triple jump indoor world record with her first jump, Tatyana then improved on this twice finishing with a mark of 15.36 metres. In 2004 for the second Summer Olympic Games in a row, …
- Alexei Zhitnik
Alexei Zhitnik (pronounced ZHIHT-nihk) (born October 10, 1972 in Kiev, U.S.S.R. (now Ukraine)), is a Ukrainian-born ice hockey defenceman who currently plays for the Atlanta Thrashers of the National Hockey League.
- Yelena Berezhnaya
Yelena Berezhnaya is a Russian figure skater. She and skating partner Anton Sikharulidze were awarded an Olympic gold medal in pair skating at the 2002 Winter Olympics, which the pair shared with another pair from Canada after a notable judging controversy.
- Alexei Nemov
Aleksei Yurievich Nemov ; born May 28, 1976, Barashevo) is a famous gymnast from Russia and one of the most medaled gymnasts, male or female, of all time. He owns an impressive 12 Olympic medals. He is often called by many sports commentators and fans "Sexy Aleksei". He often poses and waves to crowds during competition. Nemov's sense of showmanship and his routines packed full of exciting skills have won him many fans.
- Ilia Alexandrovich Kulik
Ilia Alexandrovich Kulik (Russian: ) (born May 23, 1977 in Moscow, Russia) is an Olympic figure skating champion. He and former Soviet Olympic and World Figure Skating Champion Ekaterina Gordeeva have a daughter, Elizaveta Ilini... more ... Ilia Kulik Skater Biography - Gold Medalist Olympics Ilia Kulik - Cast member of the Smucker's Stars On Ice 2007-...
- Ilia Averbukh
Ilia Averbukh is a Russian Jewish ice dancer. With Marina Anissina, he was the 1990 & 1992 World Junior champions. With wife Irina Lobacheva, he is the 2002 Olympic silver medalist.
- Olga Danilova
Olga Danilova (born June 10, 1970) is a Russian cross country skier who competed from 1991 to 2002. Her statistics are listed as: * Height: 191 cm * Weight: 59 kg Danilova won a total of eleven medals at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships, including four golds (4 x 5 km: 1995, 1997, 1999, 2001), four silvers (5 km: 1999, 10 km: 2001, 15 km: 2001, 30 km: 1999), and three bronzes (5 km + 10 km combined pursuit: 1995, 5 km: 1997, 5 km + 5 km combined pursuit: 2001).
- Ekaterina Gordeeva
Ekaterina Alexandrovna Gordeeva is a former Soviet Olympic and World figure skating champion.
- Yelena Slesarenko
Yelena Vladimirovna Slesarenko, née Sivushenko is a Russian high jumper. Largely unknown before 2004, she kickstarted the season by clearing 2.04 metres and winning the World Indoor Championships. When the outdoor season started she won the SPAR European Cup with the same result, improving her personal best from 1.97 (achieved in 2002). She continued her good form at the 2004 Summer Olympics, …
- Sergei Grinkov
Sergei Mikhailovich Grinkov (February 4, 1967 - November 20, 1995, Lake Placid, New York, United States) was an Olympic and World figure skating champion.
- Ekaterina Gamova
Ekaterina Gamova (born October 17, 1980 in Chelyabinsk) is a Russian volleyball player. She was a member of the national team that won the gold medal at the 2006 FIVB Women's World Championship, and the silver medal in both the Athens 2004 and Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. She is 2.06 metres (6 ft 9 in) tall, making her one of the tallest female athletes in the world.
- Alexei Urmanov
Alexei Yevgeneyevich Urmanov is a Russian figure skater who participated in the 1992 and 1994 Winter Olympics, winning the gold in the men's singles event in 1994. Throughout his career, Urmanov was known for his flamboyant costuming and balletic style. He was European champion in 1997 and World Professional champion in 1999. Currently he is a skating coach and an International Skating Union technical specialist. He coaches Sergei Voronov.
- Elena Zamolodchikova
Elena Mikhailyevna Zamolodchikova, nicknamed "Zamo", is a two-time Olympic gymnast. She began gymnastics at the age of six. In 1999 she participated in her first major senior competition, the World Gymnastics Championships, where she won the gold in vault, the bronze in the all-around. She is also one of a handful of women to have successfully competed the double double on floor (others include Cheng Fei, Daniela Silivaş, and Shawn Johnson of the United States).
- Vladimir Lebedev
Vladimir Lebedev is a Russian freestyle skier who competed at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy. Lebedev won bronze in the men's aerials event.
- Oksana Kazakova
Oksana Kazakova is an Olympic and European figure skating champion. With partner Artur Dmitriev, she won the gold at the 1998 Olympics. Kazakova began skating at age 4. Before skating with Dmitriev, she skated with Dmitri Sukhonov. The pair finished 15th at the 1993 World Championships. Artur Dmitriev's partner Natalia Mishkutenok decided to retire in 1994, but Dmitriev still wanted to compete. He and Kazakova began skating together in 1995.
- Elena Baranova
Elena Baranova (born on January 28, 1972 in Frunze, Kyrgyz SSR, Soviet Union (present-day Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan)) is a Russian professional basketball player. Currently, she is a Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) player who plays for the New York Liberty.
- Daniil Markov
Daniil ("Danny") Markov (born 30 July, 1976 in Moscow, U.S.S.R.) is a professional ice hockey player who is a free agent in the National Hockey League (NHL).