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Maria Sharapova - From a young age, Sharapova attracted attention for her beauty, but her real purpose was located far from the runway.
© Getty Images
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Maria Sharapova - She became a successful tennis player in 2010 and is one of the highest-paid athletes in the world.
© Getty Images
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Pyotr Tchaikovsky - He is considered one of the biggest names in music history. He authored more than 80 works.
© Getty Images
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Pyotr Tchaikovsky - Tchaikovsky's compositions are still widely used today. His work can be heard in the Opera, Eugene Onegin.
© Getty Images
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Vladimir Lenin - If you learned about the 1917 Russian Revolution, you already know a bit about Lenin.
© Getty Images
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Vladimir Lenin - His views were considered revolutionary and he was able to influence many people. His ideas even started a movement, known as Leninism.
© Getty Images
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Vladimir Lenin - His real name was Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov.
© Getty Images
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Mikhail Gorbachev - Gorbachev was the last leader of the Soviet Union. He ruled from 1985 to 1991.
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Mikhail Gorbachev - He involved in the negotiations bringing an end to the Cold War.
© Getty Images
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Anna Kournikova - The beautiful ex-tennis player has less-than-beautiful origins—her parents had to sell their TV to buy her first racket.
© Getty Images
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Anna Kournikova - The investment paid off. Kournikova became a star and reached the No. 1 WTA ranking in doubles.
© Getty Images
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Fyodor Dostoyevsky - You have probably heard of one of the greatest writers of all time.
© Getty Images
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Fyodor Dostoyevsky - His most famous work is 'Crime and Punishment.'
© Getty Images
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Boris Yeltsin - He was the first democratically elected president in Russia.
© Getty Images
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Boris Yeltsin - His government was scrutinized for its economic reforms and unsuccessful policies.
© Getty Images
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Igor Stravinsky - Stravinski was a globally known conductor but he was also a pianist and composer.
© Getty Images
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Igor Stravinsky - According to TIME magazine, Stravinski was one of the 100 most influential people of the 20th century.
© Getty Images
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Ekaterina Gamova - Gamova is the most famous volleyball player ever to play for the Russian team.
© Getty Images
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Ekaterina Gamova - During her career, she won many important titles, including the Volleyball Women's World Championships in both 2006 and 2010 and two Olympic silver medals.
© Reuters
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Alexander Pushkin - Pushkin was considered the best Russian poet of the Romantic era for his diverse poems and theater pieces.
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Alexander Pushkin - There is a giant statue of the poet in St. Petersburg.
© Getty Images
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Dmitry Medvedev - The professor and judge was the third president of Russia between 2008 and 2012.
© Getty Images
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Dmitry Medvedev - The Russo-Georgian War took place under his leadership.
© Getty Images
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Joseph Stalin - Stalin was the most well-known leader of the Soviet Union. He led the country until his death in 1953.
© Getty Images
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Joseph Stalin - His given name was Ioseb Besarionis Dze Jughashvili, but he became famous as Stalin, which means "man of steel."
© Getty Images
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Joseph Stalin - Each year, Russia celebrates the victory of the Soviet Union over Germany during World War II.
© Getty Images
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Vladimir Putin - Putin has been either Prime Minister or President of Russia since 1999.
© Getty Images
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Vladimir Putin - Before his leadership roles, he was a KGB agent.
© Getty Images
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Vladmir Putin - He continues to lead the country today.
© Getty Images
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Discover important Russian figures who made history - In 2018, all eyes will be on Russia as the FIFA World Cup is set to take place there. The country is one of the world's economic powers and has long been influential in literature, music, politics, and sports? Learn a little more about Russia's historical greats.
© Getty Images
0 / 30 Fotos
Maria Sharapova - From a young age, Sharapova attracted attention for her beauty, but her real purpose was located far from the runway.
© Getty Images
1 / 30 Fotos
Maria Sharapova - She became a successful tennis player in 2010 and is one of the highest-paid athletes in the world.
© Getty Images
2 / 30 Fotos
Pyotr Tchaikovsky - He is considered one of the biggest names in music history. He authored more than 80 works.
© Getty Images
3 / 30 Fotos
Pyotr Tchaikovsky - Tchaikovsky's compositions are still widely used today. His work can be heard in the Opera, Eugene Onegin.
© Getty Images
4 / 30 Fotos
Vladimir Lenin - If you learned about the 1917 Russian Revolution, you already know a bit about Lenin.
© Getty Images
5 / 30 Fotos
Vladimir Lenin - His views were considered revolutionary and he was able to influence many people. His ideas even started a movement, known as Leninism.
© Getty Images
6 / 30 Fotos
Vladimir Lenin - His real name was Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov.
© Getty Images
7 / 30 Fotos
Mikhail Gorbachev - Gorbachev was the last leader of the Soviet Union. He ruled from 1985 to 1991.
© Getty Images
8 / 30 Fotos
Mikhail Gorbachev - He involved in the negotiations bringing an end to the Cold War.
© Getty Images
9 / 30 Fotos
Anna Kournikova - The beautiful ex-tennis player has less-than-beautiful origins—her parents had to sell their TV to buy her first racket.
© Getty Images
10 / 30 Fotos
Anna Kournikova - The investment paid off. Kournikova became a star and reached the No. 1 WTA ranking in doubles.
© Getty Images
11 / 30 Fotos
Fyodor Dostoyevsky - You have probably heard of one of the greatest writers of all time.
© Getty Images
12 / 30 Fotos
Fyodor Dostoyevsky - His most famous work is 'Crime and Punishment.'
© Getty Images
13 / 30 Fotos
Boris Yeltsin - He was the first democratically elected president in Russia.
© Getty Images
14 / 30 Fotos
Boris Yeltsin - His government was scrutinized for its economic reforms and unsuccessful policies.
© Getty Images
15 / 30 Fotos
Igor Stravinsky - Stravinski was a globally known conductor but he was also a pianist and composer.
© Getty Images
16 / 30 Fotos
Igor Stravinsky - According to TIME magazine, Stravinski was one of the 100 most influential people of the 20th century.
© Getty Images
17 / 30 Fotos
Ekaterina Gamova - Gamova is the most famous volleyball player ever to play for the Russian team.
© Getty Images
18 / 30 Fotos
Ekaterina Gamova - During her career, she won many important titles, including the Volleyball Women's World Championships in both 2006 and 2010 and two Olympic silver medals.
© Reuters
19 / 30 Fotos
Alexander Pushkin - Pushkin was considered the best Russian poet of the Romantic era for his diverse poems and theater pieces.
© Getty Images
20 / 30 Fotos
Alexander Pushkin - There is a giant statue of the poet in St. Petersburg.
© Getty Images
21 / 30 Fotos
Dmitry Medvedev - The professor and judge was the third president of Russia between 2008 and 2012.
© Getty Images
22 / 30 Fotos
Dmitry Medvedev - The Russo-Georgian War took place under his leadership.
© Getty Images
23 / 30 Fotos
Joseph Stalin - Stalin was the most well-known leader of the Soviet Union. He led the country until his death in 1953.
© Getty Images
24 / 30 Fotos
Joseph Stalin - His given name was Ioseb Besarionis Dze Jughashvili, but he became famous as Stalin, which means "man of steel."
© Getty Images
25 / 30 Fotos
Joseph Stalin - Each year, Russia celebrates the victory of the Soviet Union over Germany during World War II.
© Getty Images
26 / 30 Fotos
Vladimir Putin - Putin has been either Prime Minister or President of Russia since 1999.
© Getty Images
27 / 30 Fotos
Vladimir Putin - Before his leadership roles, he was a KGB agent.
© Getty Images
28 / 30 Fotos
Vladmir Putin - He continues to lead the country today.
© Getty Images
29 / 30 Fotos
Russian figures who made history
Learn about Russia's greatest personalities throughout history
© Getty Images
In 2018, all eyes will be on Russia as the FIFA World Cup is set to take place there. The country is one of the world's economic powers and has long been influential in literature, music, politics, and sports? Learn a little more about Russia's historical greats.
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