Support The Moscow Times!

Russia Predicted Fourth Place Olympic Finish Despite Bans

Russia’s Olympic team has been predicted to finish fourth in the medal tables at the Rio 2016 Games despite its growing list of banned athletes, a report by Goldman Sachs revealed Monday.

The banking and investment company predicted that Russia will win 58 medals overall, including 14 golds. While the figure does not measure up to the 82-medal haul achieved at the London Olympics four years ago, but the Russian team is expected to excel in boxing, rhythmic gymnastics, synchronized swimming and wrestling.

The United States is expected to retain its top spot on the medal table. The U.S. team collected 104 medals, including 46 golds, in London.

Researchers use thousands of sources to compile the predictions, from a country’s previous Olympic performances to its economic growth figures.

Russia has had a turbulent run up to the games, with 117 of the 387 athletes originally named in the country's Olympic squad banned from competing. Their exclusion follows a damning report by the World Anti-Doping Agency on the “state-sponsored” doping program within the country.

Russian President Vladimir Putin last week claimed that the absence of so many Russian athletes would lower the standard of competition, saying that victories “would not taste the same.”

… we have a small favor to ask.

As you may have heard, The Moscow Times, an independent news source for over 30 years, has been unjustly branded as a "foreign agent" by the Russian government. This blatant attempt to silence our voice is a direct assault on the integrity of journalism and the values we hold dear.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. Our commitment to providing accurate and unbiased reporting on Russia remains unshaken. But we need your help to continue our critical mission.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just 2. It's quick to set up, and you can be confident that you're making a significant impact every month by supporting open, independent journalism. Thank you.

Continue

Read more