Which Americans Benefit From Russian Rio Ban?

Which Americans Benefit From Russian Rio Ban?

With today's ruling from the Court of Arbitration for Sport that rejected the appeal of 68 Russian athletes seeking to overturn the ban imposed by the IAAF,

Jul 21, 2016 by Dennis Young
Which Americans Benefit From Russian Rio Ban?
With today's ruling from the Court of Arbitration for Sport that rejected the appeal of 68 Russian athletes seeking to overturn the ban imposed by the IAAF, we're revisiting our post from June about which American athletes gain the most from Russia's loss.



We originally wrote this before the Olympic Trials, and have updated based on which athletes made the U.S. team.

1. High jumpers


American teen sensation Vashti Cunningham's path to a medal in Rio just got a little easier. Russians Anna Chicherova, Svetlana Shkolina, and Mariya Kuchina swept the gold and bronze medals at the last three global outdoor championships in London, Moscow, and Beijing. Cunningham won gold at the World Indoor Championships while the Russians were banned, and now there will be a non-Russian world/Olympic outdoor champion for the first time since 2009.

Cunningham lost to Chaunte Lowe at the Olympic Trials, which made Lowe a four-time Olympian. She was sixth at the last two Olympics behind two Russians in both meets, but when I asked her in Eugene if she favored a blanket ban for Russian athletes, she said, "No, I'm not racist or prejudiced."


Erik Kynard--silver in London, bronze four years later in Portland--also has one less competitor to worry about in the men's high jump this summer. Legendary drunk and 2012 Olympic gold medalist Ivan Ukhov is Russian.

2. Women's 800m runners


Alysia Montano said Russia made her career a farce, and she has reason to feel that way:

But Montano crashed out of the Trials, and Ajee' Wilson, Kate Grace, and Chrishuna Williams are the squad. It will be tough for any of them to medal with Caster Semenya, Francine Niyonsaba, and Margaret Wambui dominating the scene, but at least there are three fewer Russians to worry about.

3. Racewalkers


Doping don Viktor Chegin was finally banned for life this year after a racewalking coaching career that included more than 20 positive tests by his athletes. Chegin's racewalkers won three medals (two Olympic gold) in 2012 and four medals (two gold) in 2013. Also, we're not saying it, but the New York Times claims that "throughout most of the world, [racewalking] resides somewhere between niche and punch line."

The American team for the walks in Rio is John Nunn in the men's 50K and Maria Michta-Coffee and Miranda Melville in the women's 20K.


4. Men's hurdlers


Seemingly out of nowhere at last year's world championships, Sergey Shubenkov and Denis Kurdryavtsev set national records to take gold in the 110m hurdles and silver in the 400m hurdles, respectively. Shubenkov has plaintively taken to Facebook to complain about the ban. With both out for Rio, the path to a medal gets a little clearer for the 110m hurdles team Devon Allen, Ronnie Ash, and Jeff Porter, as well as the 400m hurdles trio of Kerron Clement, Byron Robinson, and Michael Tinsley.


5. Women's pole vaulters


Jenn Suhr and her husband/coach Rick have openly campaigned for two-time Olympic champion and world record-holder Yelena Isinbaeva to be permitted to compete this summer. With no Russians in Rio, Suhr has a great shot at defending her Olympic gold medal, and Sandi Morris could win her first.