Anastasiya Davydova is the most successful Olympic synchronized swimmer. She earned four of her five gold medals together with her namesake, Anastasiya Yermakova, winning the duet competition at the 2004 and 2008 Games, while also joining the victorious Russian team on both occasions. Davydova won her fifth Olympic gold in the team event at the 2012 London Olympics. She won 13 gold medals at the World Championships, winning the team in 2001 and 2003; the duet in 2003 and 2005; team free routine in 2009 and 2011; team technical routine in 2011; the duet technical routine in 2007 and 2009; and the duet free routine in 2007. She also added a silver medal in duet at the 2001 Worlds.

Davydova studied at the Moskva Institute of Economics, Politics, and Law, and later coached youth synchro swimming. She became director of the Olympic Synchronized Swimming Center, and a vice-president of the Russian Olympic Committee. She was made a Cavalier of three Russian State Orders, and was chairman of the Council of Assistance to the Russian Olympic Committee.