Daniil Medvedev
At this point in time, the most famous Russian athlete still in action is Daniil Medvedev. Over the last couple of years, the tennis player has stamped his authority on the international stage with stunning performances across various events. Medvedev went on to defeat Novak Djokovic in the final of the 2021 US Open and recently played an incredible five-setter in the Australian Open final against Rafael Nadal. Although ending up on the wrong side of the result, Medvedev is expected to have a long and illustrious career.
Alexander Ovechkin
The sole ice hockey player on this list is Alexander Ovechkin. He plays in the National Hockey League and is the current captain of the Washington Capitals. He also played for his local side Dynamo Moscow in the Russian Superleague. Ovechkin is considered one of the greatest-ever goalscorers to have ever played the sport.
Maria Sharapova
The second of the two tennis players on this list, Maria Sharapova, is probably the most famous Russian athlete. Sharapova has been an incredible servant to the game of tennis. She has a total of five Grand Slam titles to her name, which include a two-time win at the French Open and a win each at Wimbledon, the US Open and the Australian Open.
Fedor Emelianenko
Fedor Emelianenko is a 45-year-old MMA fighter who has certainly made his mark on the sport. He has multiple heavyweight championships in MMA and Judo. His career has seen quite a few ups and downs, including his retirement in 2012, though he decided to return to fighting once again in 2015.
Anna Chicherova
Athletics seems to be a popular choice among Russian athletes. Anna Chicherova is a high jumper with multiple medals at the Olympics. She took bronze in the 2008 Olympics and topped it off with a gold in the 2012 Olympics. She also won a gold in the 2011 World Championship in Athletics.
Adelina Sotnikova
The 25-year-old former figure skater made herself known to the world through her incredible performances on the international stage. Despite being a niche sport, figure skating helped Sotnikova make a mark on the world stage by becoming a four-time national champion as well as an Olympic champion in 2014.
Lev Yashin
The first footballer on this list is the legendary Lev Yashin. The former Soviet Union goalkeeper was renowned for his amazing shot-stopping abilities. With over 150 penalty saves, he was known as the “Black Spider”. His 20-year-long career with Dynamo Moscow represented his loyalty and faith in the side.
Yelena Isinbayeva
Pole vaulting may not be a sport that catches the eye of many people around the world. However, Isinbayeva’s accomplishments in the sport have earned her global recognition and a spot on this list. She won the gold in both the 2004 and the 2008 Olympics. Her Olympic golds go nicely with her three-time World Championship victories.
Vitaly Petrov
Formula 1 is yet another sport with a global reach, with drivers pouring in from different parts of the world. Vitaly Petrov made his name in the sport from 2010 to 2012 when he drove for two Formula 1 teams; he drove for Renault from 2010 to 2011, after which he made his move to the Caterham F1 team.
Andrey Arshavin
If you want to be famous through sport, then football is your best bet. Andrey Arshavin did precisely that. The former Arsenal and Zenit midfielder made his name known globally as a result of his performances at those two football clubs. Joining European giants Arsenal furthered his career in the sport. He made 145 appearances and netted 31 times during his time with the Gunners.
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