Robert Edelman

Professor Robert Edelman is a historian specializing in Russian/Soviet history and the history of sport at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), where he has taught since 1972. He holds a doctorate from Columbia University and previously taught at UCLA. His research explores intersections between sports, politics, and society in Russia and the USSR.

Edelman's academic credentials include a Guggenheim Fellowship (2007-2008) and multiple book awards. He has authored seminal works such as Spartak Moscow (2009) and Serious Fun (1993), analyzing Soviet sports culture. His current projects include co-editing The Oxford Handbook of Sports History and researching sport's role in the Cold War.

He has been involved in documentary consulting for major networks like HBO and ESPN, and teaches courses on modern sport history, Russian empire, and Soviet Union history. His work bridges academic scholarship with public history through media collaborations.