Non-Russians Named Victor Are Russia’s Olympic Secret Weapon

Snowboarder Victor Wild was born in White Salmon, Wash., and lived in the United States until 2011. Speed skater Victor Ahn was born in South Korea, and lived there until 2011

The two athletes — neither of whom had Russian citizenship four years ago during the last Winter Olympics in Vancouver— have combined to win five of Russia’s 10 total gold medals this month in Sochi

Confused? Wild and Ahn’s Olympic success — and fluid citizenship — shows the unusual lengths to which Russia has gone to ensure that its turn hosting the games is as resounding a success as possible. Wild and Ahn’s medal hauls also show the unusual lengths taken by Olympic athletes to achieve success in lesser-known sports that exist far from public scrutiny

Wild has won two gold medals for Russia this week in Sochi – the first Olympics medals of his career — both in slalom snowboarding. Ahn (whose first and last names are sometimes spelled “Viktor” and “An,” respectively) has won three gold medals for Russia in short-track speed skating this week. Read more…

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