"Women are mysterious," that was how Russian women's handball coach Evgeny Trefilov complained about his team's inconsistency after a preliminary game. The highly favored squad had to settle for a silver after a lopsided defeat in the final to Norway.

During the Beijing Games, the whole Russian delegation was also featured with inconsistent performances. The gold slide since 2004 Athens Games continued in Beijing, as Russia pocketed 23 golds to finish third in the medal tally.

Russia suffered a setback in Athens as the sport powerhouse came home with 27 golds, 27 silvers and 38 bronzes, surrendering the runner-up position to China, who earned fewer medals but more golds.

Before the Beijing Games, Russia kept a low profile and only set their goal at 80 medals. Though managing to retain their third place in the medal table, Russia failed to meet their expectation with eight more gold missing compared to the results four years ago.

After the first three days' embarrassing drought, Russia celebrated their first gold on August 12, when Nazyr Mankiev claimed title in 55kg Greco-Roman wrestling to offer his country a sigh of relief. In the following days, Russia remained their dilatory pace in the gold race until they surpassed Britain to seize the third place in the medal tally with a burst of four golds in the last day but one.

The Beijing Shooting Range Hall should have been a bonanza for the Russians since they snatched three shooting gold medals at Athens. However, the Russian shooters only managed two silvers and two bronzes in Beijing.

The cycling track arena also witnessed the dashing of Russia's gold hope. Although they bagged two golds in the 2004 Games, the Russians not only finished the Games without a gold but also saw a new empire established by the Britons, their arch rival in the medal table.

Wrestling, rhythmic gymnastics and synchronized swimming were the only sports that Russia enjoyed supremacy in Beijing. The invincible Russian girls monopolized the synchronized swimming and rhythmic gymnastics events, sweeping all the four titles.

Russian men won six of the 18 wrestling golds at the Beijing Games, three in Greco-Roman and three in freestyle.

In track and field Russia won six golds, the same as the did four years ago. While in disciplines like boxing, canoe/kayak flatwater, fencing, modern pentathlon, swimming and tennis, the Russians also got chance to sing along their national anthem.

(Xinhua News Agency August 24, 2008)