Sport in Russia

Sport is an important part of life in Russia, and many people love to watch and play different kinds of games and activities. The most popular sport in Russia is association football, which many children and adults enjoy watching and playing. Millions of people search for information about football online, making it the top sport in the country.

Ice hockey is also very popular in Russia and comes in second place. After that, you will find sports like handball, basketball, futsal, boxing, auto racing, volleyball, athletics, tennis, and chess. These sports are enjoyed by many families across Russia.

Other sports that have many fans in Russia include bandy, biathlon, figure skating, weightlifting, gymnastics, wrestling, martial arts, rugby union, and skiing. Russia has been successful in many of these sports, and Russian athletes have won many prizes in international competitions.

History

The Soviet Union joined the Olympic Games for the first time in the 1952 Summer Olympics. Since then, athletes from the Soviet Union and later Russia have always placed very high in the medals count at the Summer Olympics.

Sadly, some Russian athletes were not allowed to compete in big events like the 2016 Rio Olympics and 2018 Winter Olympics because of unfair practices involving performance-enhancing substances. During these events, they competed under a neutral flag called "Olympic Athletes from Russia."

After Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, many international sports groups asked Russian athletes not to take part in events until further notice. This decision came because of the conflict and rules about keeping sports events peaceful and fair.

Popularity

According to a 2018 survey, ice hockey was the most popular sport among Russians aged 12 to 64, with about half of the people showing interest in it. Figure skating came in second, and soccer was third. Biathlon and skiing were also among the top sports. The researchers noted that the survey happened right after the Olympic Games in Pyeongchang, which may have made winter sports seem more popular at the time.

In another 2018 survey, the following sports were listed as the most popular:

Athletics

Main article: Athletics in Russia

Russia has taken part in many types of athletics, such as the high jump, long jump, track athletics, hurdling, pole vault, racewalking, hammer throw, triple jump, javelin throw, and heptathlon.

In the past, Russian athletes were not allowed to compete in big international events because of rules about fair competition. After the events in Ukraine starting in 2022, Russian athletes were not allowed to take part in many international athletics events. This includes events organized by World Athletics and the Diamond League.

Bandy

Bandy, often called "Russian hockey," is a very popular sport in Russia and is considered one of its national sports. It is the third most popular sport in the country. The sport was started by the Soviet Union and some Nordic countries in 1955. The Soviet team won many Bandy World Championships from 1957 to 1979. In recent years, the average attendance for games was around 3,887 people. The women's national team has also won silver medals in several World Championships.

Because of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Russia was not allowed to participate in the 2022 Women's Bandy World Championship. The men's 2020 Bandy World Championship, which was supposed to be held in Russia, was cancelled because some countries refused to take part due to the invasion.

Basketball

Main article: Basketball in Russia

Basketball is a popular sport in Russia. The Russian national basketball team carried on the success of the Soviet Union national basketball team and has won many international titles.

After the Russian invasion of Ukraine, several basketball groups stopped Russian teams from playing. The International Basketball Federation (FIBA) banned Russian teams and officials. EuroLeague stopped CSKA Moscow, UNICS Kazan, and Zenit St. Petersburg. Eurocup Basketball also stopped PBC Lokomotiv Kuban. The women’s EuroLeague stopped UMMC Ekaterinburg, Dynamo Kursk, and MBA Moscow. The National Basketball Association (NBA) stopped all its work in Russia, including showing games on TV.

Biathlon

Biathlon is a very popular winter sport in Russia, often ranking at the top in polls and TV viewership during winter seasons. Russian athletes have won medals in Olympic and World competitions. However, because of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the International Biathlon Union has stopped Russian athletes and officials from participating in its international events and has suspended the Russian Biathlon Federation.

Boxing

Russia has had many champions in boxing, both in the Olympics and as world title holders.

In June 2023, the International Boxing Association was no longer allowed to be part of the Olympic Movement after a vote. Many members supported this decision.

Chess

See also: Soviet chess school

Chess is a popular game and sport in Russia, especially since the years after World War II in 1945. In 1948, a Russian named Mikhail Botvinnik won the World Chess Championship, beginning a time when Soviet players were very strong in chess.

Later, in the 1990s, another great player, Kasparov, won many tournaments and reached a very high skill level. Today, many of the best chess players in the world come from Russia. In 2017, 25 of the top 100 chess players were Russian.

Fencing

Fencing was a favorite sport among wealthy people in old Russia. It became popular across the Soviet Union and was especially successful in the 1980s.

After Russia's invasion of Ukraine, international rules stopped Russian and Belarusian athletes from competing. Some leaders in fencing lost their positions because of their actions during this time. A few Russian Olympic fencers moved to the United States.

Figure skating

Figure skating is a popular sport in Russia. In the 1960s, the Soviet Union won many medals in figure skating, especially in pairs skating and ice dancing. From 1964 through 2006, at every Winter Olympics, a Soviet or Russian pair won the gold medal. In 2010, a Chinese pair won gold, but a Russian pair won again in 2014 in Sochi.

After the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the International Skating Union banned all athletes from Russia from events until further notice.

Football

Main article: Football in Russia

Football has been played in Russia since the late 1800s. The first official match happened on October 24, 1897, and the first championship took place in 1912.

In 2022, Russia was not allowed to play in big football tournaments because of actions related to the situation in Ukraine. This decision was made by groups that organize these tournaments, and Russia tried to challenge it but was not successful.

Futsal

Russia has both men and women futsal teams. Because of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, FIFA and Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) stopped all Russian teams from playing in their competitions. This included both national teams and club teams.

Gymnastics

Before the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991, the Soviet women's gymnastics team won many titles at the World Championship and the Summer Olympics, except for the 1984 Olympics, which they did not attend, and a few World Championships. Most of these gymnasts were from the Russian SFSR. Russia has won medals in gymnastics at every World and Olympic competition, except for the 2008 Olympics, when the women's team did not win any medals.

Rhythmic gymnastics is also very popular in Russia. There are many clubs, such as the Gazprom School in Moscow where Irina Viner teaches.

After the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the International Gymnastics Federation stopped Russian athletes, officials, and judges from competing. They also canceled events planned in Russia and will not hold any more events there until further notice. The Russian flag is also not allowed at their events.

Handball

Main article: Handball in Russia

Handball is a popular sport in Russia. However, because of the conflict in Ukraine, international groups like the International Handball Federation and the European Handball Federation made decisions that affected Russian and Belarusian athletes and teams. They were not allowed to compete in many events, and new organizers had to be found for some tournaments that were supposed to take place in Moscow.

Judo

Judo is a popular sport in Russia, especially because President Vladimir Putin supported it and helped Russia win many Olympic and world championships.

After the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the International Judo Federation decided not to have Putin as its special leader anymore. They also removed a Russian person named Arkady Rotenberg from their important group. While they stopped holding competitions in Russia, Russian athletes were still allowed to compete, but only as neutral players.

Mixed martial arts

Main article: Mixed martial arts in Russia

See also: Russian martial arts and Sambo (martial art)

In Russia, mixed martial arts (MMA) is a popular sport that has produced many great fighters. Some of the most famous fighters from Russia include Fedor Emelianenko and Khabib Nurmagomedov, who are thought to be among the best fighters ever. Other well-known Russian fighters are Islam Makhachev, Khamzat Chimaev, Petr Yan, Alexey Oleynik, Volk Han, Oleg Taktarov, and Ali Bagautinov.

After the Russian invasion of Ukraine, an international group stopped the Russian MMA Union from taking part in big competitions and would not allow events to be held in Russia.

Sambo is another popular sport in Russia that began in the Soviet Union.

Motorsport

Vitaly Petrov became Russia's first driver in the top level of car racing, known as Formula One, in 2010. He raced for three seasons with the Renault and Caterham F1 teams and got a third-place finish at the 2011 Australian Grand Prix. Daniil Kvyat started racing in Formula One in 2014 and got second place at the 2015 Hungarian Grand Prix. The Russian Grand Prix began in 2014 at the Sochi Autodrom.

Sergey Sirotkin joined Formula One in 2018 but did not continue after that year. Nikita Mazepin became the fourth Russian driver in Formula One, racing for the Haas F1 Team in 2021. Because of issues related to a big event in 2022, he raced without representing Russia.

Because of the same big event in 2022, the Russian Grand Prix planned for Sochi Autodrom was cancelled. Also, Russian teams were not allowed to race, and no competitions could be held in Russia. Individual racers could still compete, but they had to do so without showing Russian symbols, flags, colors, or anthems.

Timur Timerzyanov won the FIA European Rallycross Championship in some years.

The Russian car brand Lada, also known as AvtoVAZ, raced in the World Touring Car Championship. They first joined in 2008 with Russian Bears Motorsport using Lada 110s. Lada later upgraded to the Lada Priora. Their best result was two sixth-place finishes by James Thompson at the Race of Italy. Lada left the championship for a while but came back in 2012 with a Lada Granta WTCC. They planned to race the whole season in 2013 and had two cars, with a best result of fifth place by Thompson at the Race of Russia. In 2014, they expanded to three cars, and former champion Robert Huff gave Lada their first win at the race in Beijing.

Motorcycle racing

Motorcycle racing is popular in Russia. After the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme banned all Russian and Belarusian riders, teams, and officials. They cancelled a major race called the FIM Speedway GP of MFR – Togliatti, which was planned to happen in Tolyatti on July 9, 2022. The organization said it was not possible to hold the race at that time.

Rugby union

Main article: Rugby union in Russia

See also: Rugby union in the Soviet Union

Rugby union is a sport that is played in Russia. In March 2022, Russia was ranked 25th in the world for rugby union. There are over 100 clubs and nearly 20,000 players in the country. Rugby became a professional sport in Russia in 2005 with the start of the Professional Rugby League.

Rugby was first played in the Russian Empire before the Russian Revolution, even before soccer became popular. However, it was sometimes stopped because some thought it was too rough. Russia took part in the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.

Because of the situation in Ukraine, Russia was not allowed to play in international rugby competitions. Both the Rugby Union of Russia and the International Rugby League stopped Russia from competing in their events.

Sambo

Sambo is a sport that began in the Soviet Union. It was created by two men from Russia, Viktor Spiridonov and Vasili Oshchepkov. The name Sambo stands for "self-defence without weapons" in Russian. In Sambo matches, players can strike, wrestle, and hold opponents on the ground, making it similar to mixed martial arts (MMA).

Some famous Russian MMA fighters, like Fedor Emelianenko and Khabib Nurmagomedov, started their careers by competing in Sambo.

Speed skating

Long track speed skating has been a part of Russian tradition since the time of the Russian Empire. After the Soviet Union ended, the Russian Federation won medals in speed skating at World Championships and World Cups.

However, after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the International Skating Union stopped allowing speed skating athletes from Russia to compete in events. As of June 2023, this ban is still in place.

Other winter sports

Russians have taken part in several exciting winter sports such as bobsleigh, skeleton, and luge.

Because of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, international groups like the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation and the International Luge Federation stopped Russian athletes from competing. The International Ski Federation also banned Russian and Belarusian athletes from its events.

Swimming and diving

Swimming used to be a popular sport for people in Russia before the country known as the USSR broke apart. Today, it is mostly followed by top athletes rather than everyday people.

In March 2022, because of the conflict with Ukraine, international swimming groups did not allow Russian athletes to compete in big swimming events. They also decided that these events would not be held in Russia and that Russian athletes could not wear the Russian colors or have the Russian anthem played even if they won.

Tennis

Russia has had many successful tennis players. Famous names include Maria Sharapova and Dinara Safina, who both reached the top spot in women's tennis. Anastasia Myskina won a major tournament in 2004, and Sharapova won five big titles. The Russian women's team won a major team competition four times between 2004 and 2008. At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Russian women took all three medals in tennis.

On the men's side, Marat Safin and Yevgeny Kafelnikov each won two major titles. Safin won the US Open and the 2005 Australian Open, while Kafelnikov won the 1996 French Open and the 1999 Australian Open. Both also won Olympic gold medals. More recently, Daniil Medvedev reached the number one spot in 2022 and won the 2021 US Open, and Andrey Rublev has also been a top player.

Because of world events, some tennis tournaments stopped letting Russian players compete in 2022. However, individual players can still play in most events, just not under the Russian flag.

Volleyball

Main article: Volleyball in Russia

The Russian women's national volleyball team is ranked 8th in the FIVB World Rankings. Some of their biggest achievements include:

• 2 Olympic silver medals (2000 and 2004)
• 2 FIVB World Championships gold medals (2006 and 2010)
• 1 FIVB Volleyball World Grand Champions Cup gold medal (1997), 1 silver medal (2001), and 1 bronze medal (1993)

Because of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, international volleyball groups decided not to let Russian teams, clubs, and officials play in their events. This includes teams for volleyball, beach volleyball, and snow volleyball. This decision was kept in place through June 2023.

Wrestling

See also: Wrestling in Dagestan

Russia has had many winners in Olympic and World wrestling competitions. One famous wrestler is Alexander Karelin, who won three Olympic gold medals in Greco-Roman wrestling and was called the greatest Greco-Roman wrestler of the 20th century.

Wrestling is a popular sport for boys and young men in Russia, especially in areas like Chechnya, Dagestan, Karachay-Cherkessia, North-Ossetia, Kabardino-Balkaria, and Ingushetia.

Weightlifting

In Russia, people enjoy a strongman competition called Powerlifting. This sport is similar to weightlifting and has grown from it. Russia takes part in the International Powerlifting Federation and does very well. Other countries that are also successful include the United States, Poland, Norway, United Kingdom, Taiwan, Sweden, Finland, Japan, and Ukraine.