| Russia at the 2004 Summer Olympics | |
|---|---|
 | |
| IOC code | RUS |
| NOC | Russian Olympic Committee |
| Website | www |
| in Athens | |
| Competitors | 446 in 27 sports |
| Flag bearers | Alexander Popov (opening)[1] Andrey Moiseyev (closing) |
| Medals Ranked 3rd |
|
| Summer Olympics appearances (overview) | |
| Other related appearances | |
 Russian Empire (1900–1912) Soviet Union (1952–1988) Unified Team (1992) Olympic Athletes from Russia (2018) ROC (2020) Individual Neutral Athletes (2024) | |
Russia competed at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece, from 13 to 29 August 2004. This was the nation's third consecutive appearance at the Summer Olympics as an independent nation. The Russian Olympic Committee sent a total of 446 athletes to the Games, 244 men and 202 women, to compete in all sports, except baseball, field hockey, football, and softball.
Russia left Athens with a total of 90 Olympic medals – 28 golds, 26 silver, and 36 bronze – finishing second only to the United States in the overall medal standings, and third in the gold medal tally.[2] The Russian delegation proved particularly successful in several sports, winning a total of nineteen medals in athletics, ten each in shooting and wrestling, seven in gymnastics and weightlifting, six in boxing, and five in cycling and judo. From the twenty-four sports played by the athletes, twelve of them won more than a single Olympic medal. Russian athletes dominated in rhythmic gymnastics and synchronized swimming, where they won gold medals in every event. Among Russia's team-based athletes, the indoor volleyball teams, along with men's handball and water polo and women's basketball, claimed Olympic medals in their respective tournaments.
Among the nation's medalists were synchronized swimming pair Anastasia Davydova and Anastasiya Yermakova, who both won gold in the women's duet and team routines,[3] pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva, who later emerged as Russia's most promising track star in the decade,[4] and Greco-Roman wrestler Khasan Baroev, who sought revenge for Russia on Aleksandr Karelin's defeat from Sydney to take home the super heavyweight title.[5] Five-time Olympian Andrey Lavrov helped the men's handball team beat the Hungarians on his quest for the bronze medal and fourth medal overall in his fifth and final Olympic appearance.[6]
As of 2021, this is Russia's best ever result in terms of overall medals and second-best result in terms of gold medals (after 2000).
- ^ Российский флаг в Афинах понесет Александр Попов / Билеты на Олимпиаду пока никому не интересны / Тайсону сделали операцию [Alexander Popov will carry Russian flag in Athens / Tickets to the Olympics had so far no interest / Tyson had surgery] (in Russian). Novye Izvestia. 4 August 2004. Archived from the original on May 8, 2014. Retrieved 7 May 2014.
- ^ "2004 Athens: Medal Tally". USA Today. Retrieved 1 April 2014.
- ^ "American swimmers reach the medal stand in duet synchronized event". USA Today. 25 August 2004. Retrieved 7 May 2014.
- ^ "Isinbayeva wins pole vault". BBC Sport. 24 August 2004. Retrieved 7 May 2014.
- ^ Fitzpatrick, Frank (26 August 2004). "Emotional Gardner takes the bronze and his final bow". Philadelphia Inquirer. Archived from the original on May 8, 2014. Retrieved 7 May 2014.
- ^ "Lavrov claims bronze in fifth games". ESPN. 28 August 2004. Retrieved 7 May 2014.