16 August,2012 09:34 AM IST | | AFP
"This achievement has filled the hearts of the country's millions of supporters with pride for our country," Putin said at a special ceremony at the Kremlin in Moscow.
In London the Russian team earned 82 medals overall - 24 gold, 26 silver and 32 bronze.
Vladimir Putin
Putin awarded five members of the country's victorious synchronised swimming team - Maria Gromova, Anastasia Davydeva, Natalia Ishchenko, Svetlana Romashina and Elvira Khasyanov - the Order of Merit. Three-time world champion rhythmic gymnast Evgeniya Kanaeva received the same award for her gold.
The winner of the women's 400m hurdles gold Natalia Antyukh and volleyball player Sergei Tetyukhin were given the Order of Honour, while 33 other Olympic winners were decorated with the Order of Friendship.
All 130 country's Olympic medal winners were given high-end Audi cars by the government. - u00a0
