The Olympic Games

Russian Stars of the Beijing Olympics

“Sports rivalry is the best kind of competition, the most peaceful, the most honest kind,” Russian President Dmitri Medvedev told Chinese reporters during his first trip to China in May, made less than three months before the official kick-off of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. Later, when a Russian-speaking Chinese student asked him for whom he will cheer during the upcoming Olympic Games in Beijing, Medvedev smiled. “I will root for Russia, and for China. I hope that, together, we will take home all the medals.”

To cement the president’s message of goodwill toward China and spread some Olympic cheer, the Russian government put together a video that played over 200 times on large public screens in China, in busy places like the Beijing railway station, during the run-up to the Olympics. The 10-minute clip featured the speaker of Russia’s lower house of parliament Boris Gryzlov, speaker of the upper house Sergey Mironov, Deputy Prime Minister of the Government Alexander Zhukov, Russian star athletes Alina Kabaeva and Svetlana Khorkina, and the pop singer Alsou. If Gryzlov’s music video “Russia, ahead! It’s now your turn!” is any indication of administrative talent, then this video was destined from the start to turn a few million heads in the land of the dragon.

Matvey Korobov Boxing Stats: Birthdate: January 7, 1983 Birthplace: Orotukan, USSR Height: 180 cm (5’9”) Weight: 75 kg (168 lbs) Category: Middleweight Achievements: Gold medal, 2005 World Amateur Boxing Championships Gold medal, 2006 European Amateur Boxing Championships Gold medal, 2007 World Amateur Boxing Championships Interesting Fact: Korobov, known for his outstanding work ethic, won the European junior title in 2001. However, Russia did not select him to participate in the 2004 Olympic Games, instead sending Gaydarbek Gaydarbekov, who brought home gold.

But diplomacy aside, the Olympics is about winning, and nothing boosts a country’s self- and global esteem like a few dozen shiny gold medals. Thirty or so gold medals, to be more exact. First vice-president of the Russian Olympic Committee Vladimir Vasin made it clear in as early as April that Russia intends to win 30 to 40 gold medals. Zhukov, who also heads the Sochi 2014 supervisory board, was even more optimistic. In January, he expressed that Russian athletes could bring back from Beijing 38 to 40 gold medals. To make it happen, the Russian government spent 12.180 billion rubles on preparing Russian athletes for Beijing.

And it’s not just the Russian government that wants to see Russia take home more medals; Russian oligarchs joined forces to contribute to their country’s winning image. Ten of Russia’s richest tycoons, including Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich and Vagit Alekperov, the owner of Russia’s second-largest oil producer Lukoil, pledged $12 million for bonuses for Russian champions in Beijing. Russia’s richest established a fund to boost the country’s performance in the Olympics and world championships back in 2005. But the amount that they are spending on Russian victory in the Beijing Games exceeds that of the 2006 Turin Olympics nearly threefold.

Alexey Tischenko Boxing Stats: Birthdate: May 29, 1984 Birthplace: Omsk, USSR Height: 167 cm (5’4”) Weight: 60 kg (132 lbs) Category: Lightweight Achievements: Gold, 2004 Olympic Games Gold, 2005 World Amateur Championships Bronze, 2007 World Amateur Championships Gold, 2006 European Amateur Championships Interesting Fact: Tischenko began training at 8 with his father, Victor, and won his first tournament championship at 12, competing in the 26 kg (58 lbs.) category. Having drawn the attention of talent scouts, at 16 he entered the Omsk School and Olympic Training Center.

The Russian government already awards gold, silver, and bronze medalists $50,000, $20,000, and $10,000, respectively. This is about how much U.S. athletes get. But, it’s no secret that American star athletes usually rake it in with big endorsement deals, sponsor bonuses, and high professional salaries. The tycoons’ generous positive reinforcement of Russia’s best will no doubt help to level off the playing field, so to speak, and, consequently, heat up the competition.

So, who are the athletes that are guaranteed to “bring it home”?

“I am a superstitious person, so it’s especially hard for me to give the names of those I would bet my money on,” said Igor Kazikov, deputy chief of mission and head of the Russian Olympic Committee’s administration on participation in the Olympic Games. “But, I can tell you who I’d want to see win. I want to see our women’s volleyball, women’s handball, and women’s basketball teams leave with gold medals.”

Andrey Kirilenko Basketball Stats: Birthdate: February 18, 1981 Birthplace: Izhevsk, USSR Height: 206 cm (6’9”) Weight: 103 kg (227 lbs) Professional Team: Utah Jazz Achievements: 2004 NBA All-Star 2002 NBA All-Rookie Team 1997 MVP U19 World Championship 1999 MVP Russian Championship 2000 MVP EuroBasket 2007 MVP FIBA 2007 European Player of the Year Interesting Fact: Kirilenko’s birthplace of Izhevsk is where the Soviet AK-47 assault rifle was designed and produced. As a result, Kirilenko’s nickname is “A K-47,” a reference to his initials and his uniform number with the Utah Jazz.

Russia’s women’s national handball team has a remarkable world championship record. Between 2001 and 2007, it won first place 4 times out of 5 (taking second place in 2006). The women’s volleyball team has also won the world championship on multiple occasions. Judging by its record, the women’s basketball team is also a good bet. Back in February, Russia’s VTB Bank put its money on the team by signing an agreement with the Russian Basketball Federation to become general sponsor of the women’s national team.

Kazikov also explained that Olympic Games are a unique phenomenon. “There are some strong athletes who shine at other sporting events, win high international acclaim, and become famous. But in the Olympics they are suddenly defeated.”

Lev Savin, assistant deputy chief of mission, emphasized the intense competition that goes on in Russia in the run-up to the Olympics. Some athletes who have been past champions did not make this year’s cut. For example, Buvaisar Saitiev, who has won eight world-level gold medals in freestyle wrestling, did not make it into the Beijing Olympic Games.

Both Savin and Kazikov identified the United States and China as Russia’s biggest competitors. Savin named American swimmer Michael Phelps and, in general, U.S. track and field, basketball, women’s soccer, and gymnastics as Russia’s major rivals. Badminton, table tennis, and diving are the “traditional” fields in which Russians and Chinese are expected to clash, Savin said.

Maria Sharapova Tennis Stats: Bir thdate: April 19, 1987 Birthplace: Nyagan, Russia Height: 188 cm (6’2”) Weight: 59 kg (130 lbs) Plays: Right-handed Achievements: Career record: 304-70 Career titles: 19 Highest ranking: 1 (August 22, 2005) Grand Slam results: Australian Open W (2008) French Open SF (2007) Wimbledon W (20 04) US Open W (2006) Interesting Fact: The Chernobyl nuclear accident in 1986 compelled Sharapova’s parents to move from Gomel, Belarus, to the Siberian city of Nyagan. In 2007, Sharapova was appointed a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Development Program and donated $100,000 to UNDP Chernobyl-recovery projects.

“But, today, there are also many countries that have a comparative advantage in various specific fields. For Ethiopians, it’s running; for Australians, swimming; for Germans, fencing,” explained Kazikov. “So, we should not expect Russia, China, and the U.S. to take home all the medals.”

Savin predicted the Russian star athletes that will shine this summer. In the boxing ring, Savin advises to watch for Matvey Korobov.

At 5 feet 9 inches, the twenty-fiveyear-old native of Orotukan, a city in northastern Russia, Korobov made the headlines when he won the middleweight world title in 2005 and 2007. In 2005, he defeated the famous Emilio Correa; in 2007, he beat Alfonso Blanco by an astonishing score of PTS 29:4. Korobov was not chosen to participate in the 2004 Olympics — Russia sent Gaydarbek Gaydarbekov instead. But, in Beijing, Korobov will no doubt go for the gold.

Stanislav Pozdnyakov Saber fencing Stats: Birthdate: September 27, 1973 Birthplace: Novosibirsk, USSR Height: 186 cm (6’1”) Weight: 89 kg. (196 lbs.) Saber Hand: Right Achievements: Olympic medal record in men’s fencing Gold, 1992, 1996, 2000 Olympics, Saber Team Gold, 1996 Olympics, Saber Individual Bronze, 2004 Olympics, Saber Team Silver, 1994, 1999, 2005 World Championships, Saber Individual Gold,1997, 2001, 2002, 2006, 2007 World Championships, Saber Individual World Championship medal record, World Fencing Championships Interesting Fact: After winning his first world championship at age 24, Pozdnyakov told an interviewer that he would like to establish his own fencing school in Siberia. In 2007, the Stanislav Pozdnyakov Fencing Training Center opened and now has over 200 pupils enrolled.

Another Russian boxer to watch for, according to Savin, is the 24-year-old Olympic champion Alexey Tischenko, who won the up to 57 kg weight category at the Athens Games. Tischenko’s mother, Marina, describes her son as a “golden boy.” “I gave birth to him in the morning. When he was shown to me, the sun was shining from the window onto his red hair. A golden boy was born, the nurses told me,” she recalls.

“I think this guy [Alexey Tischenko] has a big future,” predicted world boxing champion Vitaly Klichko, according to Tischenko’s official website. Beijing will show if he is right.

The European, world, and Olympic champion and 20-time world record holder in women’s pole vault Yelena Isinbaeva is another Russian athlete guaranteed to stand out. “We will try to raise the flag of our country as frequently as possible!” Isinbaeva promised at a grand ceremony of transfer of the banner of the Russian Olympic team.

For basketball fans, Andrei Kirilenko is the Russian to look for, Savin said.

Anastasia Yermakova Synchronized Swimming Stats: Birthdate: April 8, 1983 Birthplace: Moscow, USSR Height: 170 cm (5’6”) Weight: 53 kg (117 lbs.) Swimming partner: Anastasia Davydova Achievements: Junior European Championship, duet and team, 1998 & 2000 Birthdate: April 8, 1983 Junior World Championship, duet and team, 1999 Birthdate: April 8, 1983 European Championship, duet and team (2002, 2004, 2005, 2006) Birthdate: April 8, 1983 World Championship, duet and team, 2003 & 2005 Birthdate: April 8, 1983 Gold medal, 2004 Olympic Games, duet and team Interesting Fact: Anastasia and her partner train for 4 1/2 hours, have lunch, and then train for another 3 1/2 hours.

The list of Russians with a chance to medal in Beijing further includes saber fencer Stanislav Pozdnyakov as well as the team of Anastasia Yermakova and Anastasia Davydova, two-time world champions in synchronized swimming. And, of course, there’s tennis player Maria Sharapova, ranked No. 3 in the world at the time of this writing. Sharapova, who likes to “make every shot a power shot,” is Russia’s best bet for a medal in tennis this year.

The list of Russians with a chance to medal in Beijing further includes saber fencer Stanislav Pozdnyakov as well as the team of Anastasia Yermakova and Anastasia Davydova, two-time world champions in synchronized swimming. Also watch for pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva, who won a gold medal four years ago in Athens and is hoping to repeat her performance this year.

Of course, there’s tennis player Maria Sharapova, ranked No. 3 in the world at the time of this writing. Sharapova, who likes to “make every shot a power shot,” is Russia’s best bet for a medal in tennis this year, though the women’s tennis team is frontloaded with a number of strong players, including Svetlana Kuznetsova, the recently added Dinara Safina, and Yelena Dementieva. Another female athlete to keep an eye on is weightlifter Oxana Slivenko. The firstever two-time female world champion from Russia, Slivenko is hoping to win a gold in Beijing. If she does, she’ll be the first female Russian weightlifter to do so.

Yelena Isinbayeva Pole Vaulting Stats: Date of birth: June 3, 1982 Place of birth: Volgograd, USSR Height: 5’ 8½” Weight: 143 lbs. Achievements: Olympic Games: Gold, 2004 Athens World Championships: Bronze 2003 Paris Gold, 2005 Helsinki, 2007 Osaka World Indoor Championships: Silver, 2003 Birmingham Gold, 2004 Budapest, 2006 Moscow, 2008 Valencia European Championships: Silver, 2002 Munich Gold, 2006 Gothenburg European Indoor Championships: Gold, 2005 Madrid, 2004 Olympic Games Interesting Fact: Yelena Isinbayeva has broken the world record 21 times and is the first woman to clear 5.00 m (16.4 f t.)

Back on the basketball court, Andrei Kirilenko will be joined by Alexander Kaun, who plays NCAA basketball for the University of Kansas, and J.R. Holden, the American CSKA forward who is a naturalized Russian citizen (see article). Like Holden, South Dakota-raised WNBA star Becky Hammon, who plays for CSKA Moscow in the WNBA off-season, will also be competing for Russia.