Russia is home to some of the world’s top Curling players. With a long history of excellence in the sport, the Russian Curling team has produced some of the greatest Curling players in the world.
Notable Russian Curling players include Evgeny Arkhipov, Andrey Drozdov, and Margarita Fomina, who have won numerous World Championships and Olympic medals.
We will be taking a closer look at some of Russia’s best Curling players, their impressive careers, and their biggest accomplishments.
1. Anna Sidorova
Anna Vladimirovna Sidorova is a Russian curler who is very successful in the sport. She is the skip or captain of her own team on the World Curling Tour. This means that she is in charge of the team and makes tactical decisions throughout the game.
Sidorova is a decorated curler who has accomplished many great things. She has won bronze medals at the World Women’s Curling Championships from 2014 to 2016 and the silver medal at the 2017 World Women’s Curling Championship.
This is a remarkable achievement and a testament to her skill and leadership. Aside from her success at the World Championships, Sidorova has also had success on the World Curling Tour.
Her team has placed in the top three in many events, and they have also won multiple tournaments. This success is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the team led by Sidorova. Overall, Anna Vladimirovna Sidorova is a very successful Russian curler.
She has been able to lead her team to success on both the World Championships and the World Curling Tour. Her dedication to the sport and ability to make the right decisions have earned her many medals and accolades.
2. Alexander Krushelnitskiy
Alexander Alexandrovich Krushelnitskiy is a Russian curler who primarily plays as the skip. A skip is the person who is in charge of calling the shots in a curling game. Krushelnitskiy is a highly respected curler, yet he was recently handed a four-year ban for doping.
This ban is a result of Krushelnitskiy being found to have traces of meldonium in his system. Meldonium is a performance-enhancing drug that was added to the World Anti-Doping Agency’s list of banned substances in 2016.
The news of his doping ban has caused a great deal of shock in the curling community. It has raised questions regarding how the drug was taken and what the full extent of Krushelnitskiy’s involvement has been.
The International Olympic Committee has taken a firm stance against doping and is determined to keep drug cheats out of the Olympics. Krushelnitskiy’s ban is a reminder that even the most successful athletes can still make mistakes.
The long-term implications of the ban have yet to be seen. Krushelnitskiy will be ineligible to compete for four years, and his reputation is likely to be tarnished in the curling world.
It is yet another example of how doping can have serious consequences for athletes and their careers.
3. Anastasia Bryzgalova
Anastasia Konstantinovna Bryzgalova is a talented Russian curler. She is a well-known figure in the world of curling, having won multiple medals and awards throughout her career. She is currently dedicated to coaching the Alina Kovaleva rink from Saint Petersburg.
Anastasia’s curling career began in 2012 when she won a bronze medal at the World Junior Curling Championships.
Since then, she has gone on to compete in multiple international tournaments, winning a gold medal at the 2019 Winter Universiade and a silver medal at the 2018 World Mixed Doubles Championship.
Moreover, she has been part of two European Curling Championship gold medal-winning teams. Anastasia is now focused on her coaching career. She has been coaching the Alina Kovaleva rink since 2017 and has had great success with them.
During the 2019-20 season, the team won the European Curling Championships bronze medal and went on to represent Russia in the 2020 World Women’s Curling Championship.
Anastasia Konstantinovna Bryzgalova is an incredible curler and coach, and she has made a huge impact on the sport. She is an inspiration for many aspiring curlers, and she is sure to continue to have success both on and off the ice.
4. Nkeiruka Ezekh
Nkeirouka Khilarievna “Kira” Ezekh is a Russian curler who has gained recognition for her success in the sport. She skips her own team out of Saint Petersburg, which recently won the 2022 Russian Curling Championships.
This championship win is only one of her many accomplishments in curling. Ezekh has competed in an impressive number of international curling tournaments, having taken part in fifteen World Women’s Curling Championships and seventeen European Curling Championships.
Her consistent presence in these tournaments speaks to her skill and dedication to the sport. She is an experienced curler and her team’s winning of the Russian Championships is evidence of her leadership and ability to perform under pressure.
5. Victoria Moiseeva
Victoria Alexandrovna Moiseeva is an accomplished Russian curler. She is well-known for her successes as an alternate of the Russian national women’s team, having won gold medals at the 2013 and 2015 Winter Universiade.
She is currently playing for the CC Adamant curling team. Victoria began her curling career as a teenager in 2009. She quickly rose through the ranks, competing in both national and international events.
In 2013, she was selected to be an alternate of the Russian national women’s team, and she helped them to win gold at the Winter Universiade that year. In 2015, she was once again part of the team, and they went on to win gold at the Winter Universiade once again.
Victoria is currently playing for the CC Adamant team, a popular curling team that has a strong reputation in the international curling community. She is a dedicated and passionate curler, and she is determined to continue her success on the ice.
Victoria is an inspiration to many young curlers, and she is a great example of what hard work and dedication can achieve.
6. Margarita Fomina
Margarita Mikhailovna Fomina is a prominent curler from Moscow, Russia.
She is best known for her contribution to the successful team of Ludmila Privivkova that won the 2006 European Curling Championships. Fomina’s commitment to the sport was evident from a young age, and she received her education at the esteemed Moscow Institute of Economics and Humanities.
This allowed her to develop the skills necessary to excel in the sport, such as strategic thinking and problem-solving. Fomina has always been passionate about the sport and has been an active member of the curling community for many years.
She has been fortunate to have been part of many successful teams, and her efforts certainly played a large part in the success of the 2006 European Curling Championships. Fomina is an exemplary figure in the sport and her success is a testament to her hard work and dedication.
She has served as a role model for aspiring curlers around the world, showing that hard work and dedication can lead to great success.
7. Alexandra Saitova
Alexandra Aleksandrovna Raeva is an accomplished curler who has been selected to represent her country, Russia, in the 2014 Winter Olympics Women’s Curling tournament.
She is no stranger to international competition, having previously competed for the Russian junior national team. Her efforts were rewarded with success when the team won gold in the 2013 Winter Universiade.
Alexandra’s dedication and talent have earned her a place on the national team and she will be looking to bring home a medal from the Winter Olympics. Her experience and skill make her a formidable competitor and a valuable asset to the Russian team.
8. Alexey Timofeev
Alexey Vyacheslavovich Timofeev is a Russian curler from Saint Petersburg who is well-known for his success in the sport.
He has been a part of the Russian national men’s curling team since 2016 and has been the team’s skipper for the past two European Curling Championships. Timofeev is a highly experienced curler, having been part of the Russian national team since 2004.
Since then, he has been an integral part of the team, helping them to achieve several successes.
At the 2016 and 2017 European Curling Championships, Timofeev skippered the team to victory, leading them to victory in both tournaments. Not only is Timofeev a talented curler, but he is also an inspiring figure for young curlers in Russia and around the world.
His success and dedication to the sport have been an inspiration to many, and his commitment to the sport has been recognized by the Russian Curling Federation. Timofeev is an important figure in the world of curling, and his influence on the sport is undeniable.
9. Leonid Rivkind
Leonid Rivkind is a well-known figure in the world of curling. He is a Russian-born Israeli professional curler who is currently competing in the Russian Curling League. He was born in Russia in 1990 and moved to Israel in 2006.
Since then, he has been a prominent figure in the Israeli curling scene. He is a two-time Israeli champion and has represented Israel in the World Curling Championships and European Curling Championships.
He is also a two-time bronze medallist in the European Curling Championships. Leonid is known for his strong technique and his ability to make difficult shots. He is also highly respected for his work ethic and dedication to the sport.
He is an inspiration to many young curlers, showing them that hard work and dedication can pay off.
10. Alexey Tselousov
Alexey Tselousov is a highly accomplished curler from Saint Petersburg, Russia. He has a long history of competing in the European Curling Championships, having competed in the tournament a total of eight times.
Of these eight competitions, Tselousov skipped the team in all but two, when he instead played second for the Russian team. His best performance in the tournament came in 2004 when he was part of the Russian team led by Alexander Kirikov and played second for the team.
Since then, Tselousov has continued to be a dominant force in the curling world and continues to represent Russia in the European Curling Championships.
11. Timur Gadzhikhanov
Timur Magomedovich Gadzhikhanov is a Russian curler from Moscow who has made a name for himself in the curling world. He is a member of the Russian national men’s curling team and is currently playing second for the team at the 2016 European Curling Championships.
Gadzhikhanov is highly experienced in the sport and has been competing in curling events since the early 2000s. He has been a member of the Russian national team since 2011 and has also represented his country at the 2014 Winter Olympics.
Gadzhikhanov is known for his skills in executing the takeout shots and sweeping the ice, making him a key member of the team.
His knowledge and experience of the game make him an invaluable asset to the team, and his performance at the 2016 European Curling Championships is testament to his dedication and skill.
12. Sergey Glukhov
Sergey Andreevich Glukhov is a professional curler from Chelyabinsk, Russia. He is a highly regarded athlete in the sport, having represented his country multiple times in international curling competitions.
Glukhov is currently based in Sochi, which is a major hub for curling in Russia. He has been a part of the Russian curling team since 2006 and has been an integral part of their success.
He has been a part of their World Championship team on five occasions, most recently in 2018 where they won the gold medal. Glukhov has also won two bronze medals at the European Curling Championships, in 2013 and 2015.
In addition to his success in the sport, Glukhov has also been involved in coaching and teaching the next generation of Russian curlers.
He is a firm believer that curling is a sport that can be enjoyed by all and that everyone should have the opportunity to learn and develop their skills.
13. Aleksandr Kozyrev
Aleksandr Sergeevich Kozyrev is a Russian curler from Sochi. He is an experienced curler, having been on the national scene for many years. At the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, Kozyrev was the alternate for the Aleksey Stukalskiy team representing Russia.
His presence was invaluable to the team, as his experience and knowledge of the game helped them to achieve a great result. After the 2014 Olympics, Kozyrev went on to become the coach of Team Sergey Glukhov.
He has been instrumental in helping the team to improve and reach their goals. He has implemented a training regime that has seen the team make great strides in their performance, and they have gone on to achieve some impressive results in international competitions.
His guidance and coaching have been crucial to the team’s success.
14. Andrey Drozdov
Andrey Anatolyevich Drozdov is a prominent figure in the world of curling. Originally from Zelenograd, Russia, Drozdov currently skips one of the Russian national teams and is the first Russian men’s skip to compete in the World Championships.
He has also made history by becoming the first man to skip Russia at the Olympics. Currently, Drozdov is the coach of the Russian women’s junior team, working to lead and train the next generation of Russian curlers.
Through his dedication and experience, Drozdov has become an integral part of the Russian curling community. He has set a strong example for those in the sport by becoming the first Russian man to make an impact on the world stage.
His influence and expertise will likely continue to have a major impact on curling in Russia for years to come.
15. Julia Guzieva
Julia Viktorovna Guzieva is a professional curler from Kaliningrad, Russia. She is a highly decorated athlete in the world of curling, having achieved recognition for her contributions to the sport.
Guzieva has been involved in the game of curling for many years and has been a member of the Russia Women’s National Curling Team since 2015.
In 2016, she was selected to be the lead player for the team at the European Curling Championships, a prestigious event that brings together the top curlers from across Europe. During the tournament, she showed her skill and leadership, helping her team to a third-place finish.
Guzieva has continued to make her mark in the world of curling, achieving success at many international tournaments. Her dedication to the sport has earned her a great deal of respect within the curling community and she is now considered one of the top athletes in the game.
16. Julia Portunova
Yulia Alexandrova Portunova is a Russian curler who hails from Kaliningrad, Russia. She is a successful curler who is currently playing the third position on Team Alina Kovaleva. Portunova is a skilled and experienced curler who has been playing the sport since she was a child.
She has won numerous tournaments and is well-known in her home country. Portunova has been part of Team Alina Kovaleva since 2018 and has been instrumental in helping the team to success.
She helps to create strategies and plans for the team, as well as playing her position on the ice. Her experience and knowledge of the game is invaluable to the team.
Portunova is also a positive influence on the team, bringing her enthusiasm and passion for the sport to each match. Portunova is an important part of the Team Alina Kovaleva and is helping to make the team a success.
Her experience and knowledge of the game, combined with her enthusiasm and passion, make her an invaluable member of the team. She is an inspiration to her teammates and is helping to make Team Alina Kovaleva a force to be reckoned with in the world of curling.
17. Liudmila Privivkova
Liudmila Andreyevna Privivkova is a highly accomplished curler from Russia. She is best known for being the skip for the Russian team at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy.
A skip is the captain of the team who calls the shots while the game is in progress. In addition to playing for the national team, Liudmila is also a member of the Moskvitch Curling Club from Moscow.
This club is dedicated to promoting and developing the sport of curling in Russia.
The club has a long and storied history, with Liudmila being the latest in a long line of world-class curlers to come from the Moskvitch Curling Club. Liudmila has been a major part of the development of curling in Russia.
She has served as a mentor to many curlers, especially those from the Moskvitch Curling Club.
Throughout her career, she has consistently demonstrated her skill and dedication to the sport, making her an exemplary role model for those looking to get into the sport. Liudmila’s contribution to the sport of curling is undeniable.
She is an inspiration to all who aspire to be a successful curler. Her commitment to the sport and her determination to help others succeed is an example of what it takes to be an elite athlete.
18. Galina Arsenkina
Galina Petrovna Arsenkina is an accomplished retired Russian curler from Moscow. She is known for her impressive performance in the 2018 and 2022 Winter Olympics.
At the 2018 Winter Olympics, she competed as the second for the Olympic Athletes from Russia team, which was led by Victoria Moiseeva.
Similarly, she competed at the 2022 Winter Olympics as the second for the Russian Olympic Committee women’s curling team, which was skipped by Alina Kovaleva. During her career as a curler, Arsenkina has achieved many successes.
She has been a part of several national and international championships, including the 2017 European Curling Championships.
She has also won multiple awards and recognitions for her outstanding performances, such as the 2018 Russia Curling Association Award. Argentina is an experienced curler with a long and successful career.
She has proved her skills and expertise in the Winter Olympics, and her achievements are a great source of inspiration for aspiring curlers.
19. Uliana Vasilyeva
Uliana Yuryevna Vasilyeva is a Russian curler who has achieved great success in the sport. She is a member of the Russian national women’s curling team, and in 2016 she competed at the European Curling Championships.
At this event, she played third for the Russian team and contributed to their success, as they were able to win the gold medal.
This is a great accomplishment and one that she should be proud of. Vasilyeva has been actively involved in curling for a number of years, and her dedication to the sport has paid off.
She is a prime example of the level of skill and commitment that is required to be successful in curling. Her gold medal win in 2016 has been celebrated by the Russian curling community, and she is sure to be an inspiration for many other aspiring curlers.
20. Ekaterina Kuzmina
Ekaterina Anatolievna Kuzmina is a professional curler from Moscow, Russia. She has been involved in the sport since a young age, first taking up curling in her hometown of Moscow.
She quickly rose to prominence in the sport, winning numerous national and international competitions. She has represented her country in the Winter Olympics and in the World Curling Championships, winning several medals in both.
Her career also includes numerous other accolades, such as receiving the Order of Friendship from the Russian government and being inducted into the Russian Curling Hall of Fame.
She is widely recognized as one of the most accomplished curlers in the world and is a role model for aspiring curlers everywhere.
21. Petr Dron
Petr Dmitrievich Dron is a highly accomplished Russian curler and curling coach. He is based in St. Petersburg and has represented his country on the international stage in the sport.
In 2013, he competed in the World Curling Championships, and the following year he participated in the Winter Olympics in Sochi. In addition to his own competitive career, he is currently coaching the Russian men’s junior team.
His expertise and experience in the sport make him a valuable asset to the team, and an inspiration to the younger members. With his talent and guidance, the team is sure to reach great heights in the future.
22. Alexey Stukalskiy
Alexey Vitalyevich Stukalskiy is a professional curler from Russia. He is part of the Russian national curling team, playing the position of fourth stones for the team’s skip, Andrey Drozdov.
Curling is a sport that involves throwing stones on a sheet of ice towards a target, while the other team players sweep the ice to help the stones reach the target.
As a fourth stones player, Stukalskiy is responsible for delivering the last stones of a team’s end, often aiming for difficult shots that will help the team to score points.
The team relies on Stukalskiy to make accurate, precise shots that can help them gain an advantage over their opponents and win the game. Stukalskiy’s skill and precision have been essential to Andrey Drozdov’s team, allowing them to succeed in international competitions.
23. Anastasia Skultan
Anastasia Yuryevna Skultan is an accomplished Russian curler from Moscow. She has played in a variety of global curling events, including five World Junior Curling Championships, two European Curling Championships, three World Curling Championships, and the 2002 Winter Olympics.
Skultan was a member of the Russian curling team at the Olympics, and she played the lead position for skip Olga Jarkova. Skultan’s experience in the world of curling is extensive.
She has competed at the highest levels of the sport, and her experience in international competitions is vast. She has competed in five World Junior Curling Championships, two European Curling Championships, and three World Curling Championships.
In addition to these, Skultan also represented Russia at the 2002 Winter Olympics. At the Olympics, Skultan played the lead position for skip Olga Jarkova. In curling, the lead is the first person to throw the stone down the ice.
The lead’s job is to get the stone closest to the center of the house or to the tee line.
Skultan’s skills as a lead were essential in the success of the Russian team during the Olympics. Anastasia Yuryevna Skultan is an impressive curler from Moscow and her accomplishments are impressive.
She has competed in some of the highest levels of curling competition and her experience in international competition is impressive. Skultan’s performance as the lead for Olga Jarkova at the 2002 Winter Olympics was essential to the team’s success.
24. Andrei Meshcheriakov
Andrey Meshcheryakov is a multi-talented athlete from Russia. He is a competitive swimmer and wheelchair curler. He has represented his country in many prestigious sports events, such as the IPC World Championships and the 2012 Summer Paralympics.
His impressive curling abilities have allowed him to participate in the 2018 Winter Paralympic Games as well as the World Wheelchair Curling Championships of 2019 and 2020. His hard work and dedication have paid off, as he became the 2020 World champion in wheelchair curling.
His achievements are a testament to his skill and determination, and prove that with enough dedication and hard work, anything is possible.
25. Anton Kalalb
Anton Igorevich Kalalb is a Russian curler from the city of Sochi. He has been an active member of the Russian curling team, having represented his country at the European Curling Championships in three separate occasions, in 2010, 2012, and 2014.
During these three championships, Kalalb played the role of an alternate curler, meaning that he served as a substitute and only took part in the competition when needed.
This is a testament to Kalalb’s skill and experience in curling, as he was chosen to be a part of the Russian team in each of the European Curling Championships he attended.
26. Ekaterina Galkina
Ekaterina Vladimirovna Galkina is a Russian curler who has achieved success both in the Olympics and in the European Championships.
She was part of Ludmila Privivkova’s team at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy, and this team went on to win the 2006 European Curling Championships. Galkina has also achieved success in her academic pursuits.
She has studied Management and International Relations at the Russian State University for the Humanities, a prestigious institution. This combination of achievement in both sports and academics is a testament to her dedication and hard work.
Galkina is an inspiration to anyone who wants to excel in their chosen field.
27. Alina Kovaleva
Alina Romanovna Kovaleva is an accomplished Russian curler from Saint Petersburg. She has achieved a great deal of success in her sport, most notably winning the 2015 European Curling Championships as an alternate.
This victory earned her the prestigious Merited Master of Sports of Russia award. Kovaleva is no stranger to success, having competed in several international tournaments throughout her career.
She has also represented her nation at the European Curling Championships and has been a member of the Russian national team since 2011. Kovaleva has also been successful at the club level.
She has won numerous titles in the Saint Petersburg region and has represented several clubs in the Russian Curling League. Kovaleva’s dedication to her sport and her commitment to excellence has been rewarded with the Merited Master of Sports of Russia award.
This honor is bestowed upon individuals who have shown exceptional skill and dedication to their sport and is a testament to Kovaleva’s success. Thanks to her hard work and dedication, Kovaleva has achieved much success in the sport of curling.
She is an excellent representative of her country and a great example of what hard work and determination can lead to.
28. Anastasia Moskaleva
Anastasia Igorevna Moskaleva is a Russian athlete who competes in the sport of curling. She is a highly skilled and well-respected competitor in the sport.
Moskaleva first burst onto the international curling scene in 2004, when she won the world junior curling championships in Sweden. Since then, she has gone on to represent her country at the 2006, 2010, and 2014 Winter Olympic Games.
She has also been a part of the Russian curling team that won the gold medal at the 2011 World Women’s Curling Championship. Moskaleva’s success in the sport of curling has helped to raise the profile of the sport in Russia, and she is now considered to be one of the best female curlers in the world.
As well as competing at the highest levels of international curling, Moskaleva is also an ambassador for the sport in her home country.
She is a passionate advocate for the sport and regularly attends curling camps and clinics to help share her knowledge and experience with the next generation of curlers.
29. Mikhail Vaskov
Mikhail Sergeevich Vaskov is a Russian male curler who has made a name for himself in the sport. He has been a competitive curler since a young age and was the skip for the Russian national men’s curling team at the 2018 European Curling Championships.
As skip, he was responsible for leading his team and strategizing shots to give them the best chance of winning. He was also responsible for managing the team dynamics and motivating them to perform their best skills on the ice.
Vaskov has become known for his strong leadership abilities and tactical decision-making. His determination and drive have earned him respect from his peers and earned him the title of skip for the 2018 European Curling Championships.
His performance at the championships earned him a lot of recognition and respect, and he is now considered one of the top Russian male curlers.
Vaskov’s dedication and hard work have made him a role model for aspiring curlers, and his success on and off the ice continue to inspire many.
30. Alexander Shevchenko
Alexander Alexeyevich Shevchenko is a highly accomplished wheelchair curler from Russia. He is currently playing as lead for the Russian wheelchair curling team and has helped the team achieve several impressive feats.
At the 2014 Paralympic Games, Shevchenko and his team won the silver medal. In 2012, 2015, and 2016, the team was able to take home gold medals from the World Championships. In 2017, the team won the silver medal in the World Championships.
Shevchenko’s commitment to his team has helped them to reach incredible heights in the sport, and his leadership has been a key factor in the team’s success. Shevchenko’s dedication and hard work make him a great role model for aspiring wheelchair curlers.
31. Marat Romanov
Marat Marsovich Romanov is a wheelchair curler from Russia who has achieved impressive success in the sport. He is an alternate on the Russian wheelchair curling team and was part of the team’s silver medal win at the 2014 Paralympic Games.
In addition, he and his team have won gold medals at the 2012, 2015, and 2016 World Championships, and the silver medal at the 2017 World Championships.
This demonstrates that Marsovich Romanov is a highly capable competitor who has achieved much success in the sport of wheelchair curling.
32. Andrey Smirnov
Andrey Viktorovich Smirnov is a Russian wheelchair curler who plays the role of skip for the Russian wheelchair curling team. He is an incredibly talented athlete, having achieved remarkable success in the sport.
His team won the silver medal at the 2014 Paralympic Games, an incredible feat for any athlete. He and his team also won gold medals at the 2012 and 2015 World Championships, a testament to their skill and determination.
Smirnov’s hard work and dedication have paid off, allowing him to be part of a team that is a force to be reckoned with in the world of wheelchair curling. He is a true inspiration to other athletes, showing that hard work and dedication can yield incredible results.
Conclusion
Russia’s curling players are some of the best in the world.
Their accomplishments in international competitions, such as the Winter Olympics, have established them as top contenders in the sport of curling. They have shown an impressive level of skill and dedication to the sport, putting them among the top curling players in the world.
With their continued success, Russia’s curling players will continue to be a force to be reckoned with in the world of curling.
