In 1952, just 24 years ago, the USSR competed in the Olympic Games for the first time. Russia, as a State, had last appeared at the Games in 1912. In the following six Olympiads the Soviet Union have won over 500 medals.

Alexander Anufriyev, who won a bronze in the 10,000 metres at Helsinki in 1952 was their first athlete to win an Olympic medal, but since then we have seen a glittering avalanche of gold, silver and bronze from such greats as Vladimir Kuts, their middle-distance star, Viktor Saneyev, the best triple-jumper ever, high jumper Valery Brumel, Vladimir Golubnichy, who won two gold, one silver and one bronze in four Olympiads in the 20k Walk, and Valery Borzov, the double sprint champion in Munich, who will again be a favourite in Montreal.

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