This is an incomplete list of world-famous or notable Ossetians, including both full and partial Ossetian ancestry.
Cultural
Cultural figures
Valery Gergiev – General director and artistic director of the Mariinsky Theatre, former chief conductor of the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra and of the Munich Philharmonic Tugan Sokhiev – Russian conductor. Elbert Tuganov – Azerbaijani-Estonian animator and film director.
Historians and writers
Gaito Gazdanov – Russian émigré writer of Ossetian descent Kosta Khetagurov – Ossetian national poet Arsen Kotsoev – one of the founders of Ossetic prose Vladimir Gagloyev – Ossetian writer, playwright and publicist Manana Chitishvili – Georgian poet and academic Elbadzuko Britayev – founder of Ossetian traditional theatre
Architects
Vitaly Kaloyev – Russian former architect and convicted murderer
Sports
Football
Vladimir Salbiyev – former Russian professional footballer Vladimir Gabulov – goalkeeper Ruslan Bolov – Russian professional football player Stanislav Cherchesov – football manager of the Kazakhstan national team Khetag Khosonov – Russian football player Shota Bibilov – professional footballer Artur Yelbayev – Russian former professional football player Zaza Eloshvili – Georgian footballer Artur Pagayev – association football coach Soslanbek Arshiyev – professional football player
Martial Arts
Soslan Ramonov – freestyle wrestler, 2016 Olympics gold medalist Ruslan Karaev – professional kickboxer Murat Gassiev – Russian former unified cruiserweight world champion Khetag Gazyumov – retired Russian and Azerbaijani freestyle wrestler, Olympic medalist Zelym Kotsoiev – Ukrainian-Azerbaijani judoka, 2024 Summer olympics gold medalist Amiran Kardanov – Russian and Greek Freestyle wrestler, 2000 Olympics bronze medalist Taimuraz Tigiev – Russian-Kazakhstani wrestler, 2008 Summer Olympics silver medalist Arsen Fadzaev – former Soviet wrestler, 1988 and 1992 Olympics gold medalist Makharbek Khadartsev – former Soviet wrestler, 1988 and 1992 Olympics gold medalist Zaurbek Sokhiev – Russian-Ossetian male freestyle wrestler Artur Taymazov – Uzbek-Russian wrestler and politician, 2004 Olympics gold medalist Soslan Tigiev – Russian-Uzbekistani wrestler Ibragim Aldatov – Ukrainian freestyle wrestler Dzhambolat Tedeyev – Russian-Ukrainian former wrestler Elbrus Tedeyev – Ukrainian wrestler, 2004 Olympics gold medalist Mirabi Valiyev – Ukrainian former wrestler Zaza Zazirov – former Ukrainian wrestler, 1996 Olympics bronze medalist Khadzhimurat Gatsalov – Russian wrestler, 2004 Olympics gold medalist Aslanbek Alborov – Russian former freestyle wrestler Vladislav Baitcaev – Russian freestyle wrestler Zaur Makiev – Russian former freestyle wrestler Artur Naifonov – Russian freestyle wrestler, 2020 Olympics bronze medalist Zaurbek Sidakov – Russian freestyle wrestler, 2020 Olympics gold medalist Diana Avsaragova – Russian mixed martial artist Tajmuraz Salkazanov – Slovak naturalized freestyle wrestler Azamat Tuskaev – Russian freestyle wrestler
Sumo wrestlers
Hakurozan Yūta – former sumo wrestler Alan Karaev – Russian sumo wrestler Rohō Yukio – former sumo wrestler. The highest rank he achieved was komusubi Wakanohō Toshinori – retired Russian sumo wrestler. His highest rank was maegashira 1
Weightlifting
Timur Taymazov – former Ossetian-Ukrainian weightlifter, 1996 Olympics gold medalist Arsen Kasabiev – Polish-Georgian weightlifter, 2008 Olympics silver medalist Alan Naniyev – Russian born Azerbaijani male weightlifter Tima Turieva – Russian weightlifter
Misc
Vladislav Mirzoev – Russian pair skater Zarina Gizikova – Russian retired individual rhythmic gymnast Masha Gordon – British businesswoman, explorer and mountain climber Chermen Kobesov – Russian para-athlete Elizaveta Shanaeva – Russian competitive ice dancer.
Entrepreneurs Mykola Bagrayev – Ukrainian businessman and social activist Igor Kesaev – owner and president of the Mercury Group Taimuraz Bolloyev – CEO of Baltika Breweries
Politicians, Kings and activists
Isabel Magkoeva – Russian political activist Znaur Gassiev – South Ossetian politician, who was one of the leaders of the South Ossetian independence movement in the early 1990s David Soslan – Alanian prince, consort of Queen Tamar Durgulel the Great – Alanian king of the 11th century, under whom Alania reached its economic and military peak Kazbek Elkanovich Tedeyev – Ukrainian prosecutor and public figure Kanukov Dzhambulat – Colonel of the Aviation of the Western Ukrainian Republic. Dmitry Sanakoyev – former Ministry of Defence of South Ossetia, Prime Minister of South Ossetia, and head of the Provisional Administration of South Ossetia
Presidents of South Ossetia
Lyudvig Chibirov – 1st President of South Ossetia Eduard Kokoity – 2nd President of South Ossetia Leonid Tibilov – 4th President of South Ossetia Anatoly Bibilov – 5th President of South Ossetia Alan Gagloyev – current President of South Ossetia
Military Sergey Khabalov – Imperial Russian Army general Issa Pliyev – Soviet military commander Kantemir Tsalikov – Red Army major general who held division and corps command during World War II Akhsarbek Abaev – Red Army Sergeant and Hero of the Soviet Union Emir Saad – Ossetian Islamist militant
Scholars
Sergey Guriyev – economist, dean and a professor of economics at the London Business School, former rector at Moscow's New Economic School (NES) Grigori Tokaty – Soviet rocket scientist and politician Vasily Abaev – Soviet linguist Magomet Isayev – linguist and Esperantist
Artists Film, TV, and stage
Alec Utgoff – actor Alan Badoev – Ukrainian movie director Svetlana Adyrkhaeva – Soviet and Russian ballerina Zemfira Tsakhilova – Soviet and Russian actress and teacher
Musicians and painters
Maharbek Tuganov – Ossetian painter Zlata Chochieva – Russian pianist Alan Khadzaragov – Russian musician and rapper Elena Tsallagova – Russian operatic soprano Veronika Dudarova – Soviet and Russian conductor, the first woman to succeed as conductor of symphony orchestras in the 20th century
See also
Ossetians Ossetia Digor people Jasz people
References