The objectives of the All-Russian physical culture and sports complex “Ready for Labor and Defense” (RLD) are to increase the effectiveness of physical culture and sports in strengthening health, harmonious and comprehensive personal development, patriotism and continuity in the implementation of physical education of the population. Proper organization of students' participation in the implementation of the RLD complex aimed at the formation of physical culture in the broadest sense of the word will help not only to preserve human health, but also to create a systematic need for physical culture and sports activities for many years. The aim of the study is to determine the impact of motivation on the success of the performance of the RLD standards of medical students of Belgorod State National Research University. Methods and organization of the research. In order to identify the level of motivation to perform the RLD complex in 2019-20 academic year in students of the Medical Institute a questionnaire and analysis of protocols of the RLD complex was carried out. Our study involved 299 1st and 2nd-year students of the Medical Institute aged 18-20. They were asked to answer a number of questions concerning both the RLD complex and motivation for physical activity and sports. The following methods were used to determine the impact of motivation on the successful performance of the RLD complex norms: study and analysis of scientific works by domestic and foreign scientists; questioning, interviewing, observation, testing the participants to perform the RLD complex; statistical processing of the obtained results. The research results and their discussion: the vast majority of students (90.95%) of the Medical Institute train systematically to fulfill the RLD complex only during the classes of physical education and sports in the educational institution, and only 7.09% of students train additionally involved in sports clubs. According to the majority of students, physical education classes as part of the educational process help them to prepare for the RLD tests, but these classes alone are not sufficient for successful completion of all tests and obtaining the insignia of distinction. The majority of students (80.93%) of the Medical Institute actually take part in the individual tests of the RLD. Conclusions: it was proved that the level of motivation has a direct impact on high results in the RLD complex. Students with high and medium levels of motivation to improve their health and physical fitness have knowledge in the field of physical education and sports and, as a rule, successfully perform the standards of the RLD complex. In the future they plan to systematically use the methods and means of physical education and sports in their professional activities.