Vladimir Putin, Alina Kabaeva: Russian President Denies He Will Marry Ex-Gymnast

***UPDATE***
Putin denies he has separated from his wife to marry ex-gymnast and Russian politician Alina Kabaeva.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday denied a tabloid report that he had divorced his wife and intended to marry a champion gymnast less than half his age.

"There is not a single word of truth" to the report carried by a Moscow tabloid, Putin said at a news conference in Sardinia with incoming Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi.

***Scroll Down To Read The Reports From Thursday***

The Guardian reports that Moscow is buzzing with rumors that Russian president Vladimir Putin and famous gymnast Alina Kabaeva are set to get married:

Now all Moscow is ablaze with rumours that Vladimir Putin, 56, and the flexible 24-year-old Alina Kabaeva have decided to tie the knot.

The whispers of romance are particularly scurrilous because Mr Putin has not officially announced any separation from his 50-year-old wife, Ludmilla.

But the former KGB spy, known for keeping his private life as far out of the spotlight as his former career, is reported to have split from her two months ago.

According to Hello! magazine, neither Putin nor Kabaeva will confirm reports that a wedding date has been set for June 15th:

Although Russian newspaper Moskovski Korrespondent says a wedding date has been set for June 15, neither the 57-year-old groom nor his fiancee have confirmed the happy news.

Indeed, news that their president officially split from his 50-year-old First Lady two months ago came as a surprise to most Muscovites.

Who is Alina Kabaeva?

24 Years-Old: Born May 12, 1983 in Tashkent, Uzbek SSR, Soviet Union

Kabaeva is known for her extreme natural flexibility. She stands at 1.66m (5'4) and weighs 48kg (106lbs). Alina is Russia's most successful rhythmic gymnast to date, and is also one of the most decorated gymnasts in the history of rhythmic gymnastics.

Kabaeva started rhythmic gymnastics in Tashkent, Uzbekistan in 1987 at age 4. Her first coach was A. Malkina. She made her international debut in 1996. In 1998 at age 15 Alina took out the European Championships in Portugal, her victory considered by many to be completely "out of the blue".

Took home a gold medal in rhythmic gymnastics at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.

Took home a bronze medal in 2000 Sydney.

Since 2005 she is a member of the Public Chamber of Russia.

Since 2007 she has been a member of the Russian parliament, the State Duma, representing the
pro-Kremlin United Russia party.

Scroll down for videos and photos of Alina Kabaeva.

Putin and his rumored ex-wife Ludmilla.

Watch Alina at the 2004 Olympics in Greece.

Watch Alina at the Rhythmic Gymnastics Gala

Comments

[Steamboater]

06:43 AM on 04/19/2008

There's more to this story than snickers and laughs. The NY Times reports that the paper where the story first appeared is not likely to bother Putin much any more.

"Interfax reported Friday evening that publication of Moskovsky Korrespondent had been suspended “for financial reasons,” according to its parent company, National Media Company."

Putin's a damn fascist. He's closed every other newspaper, not to mention has a bunch of red flags popping up about his involvement in murdering journalists, who's been opposed to him and now this one.

[cartach]

01:12 AM on 04/19/2008

Probably nothing to it,just a rumor. However it's quite possible they're having an affair. And if youconcede to that,now try to imagine all the different ways you could have sex with such a flexible person. The possibilties are many to say the least. I just hope he does'nt put his back out,or worse,suffer a heart attack.

[PioneerKing]

09:15 PM on 04/18/2008

why buy the cow when you can get the milk free

[Bluedog12]

09:08 PM on 04/18/2008

Putin. One strange dude.

[asere]

10:40 PM on 04/18/2008

Strange ?; Why ?
What's so strange about trading- in a 50 Year old for a 24 year old ?
Wait until you hit your late 50's.
By the way, this applies to both Men and Women.
Marriage is a contract subject to cancellation.
No big deal.

[Steamboater]

06:36 AM on 04/19/2008

asere: Husbands and wives are not things. You want something to eventually trade-in? Buy a Chevy.

[Virago55]

08:41 PM on 04/18/2008

Oh hell I can do that...but then I usually wake up.

[ailbhe]

07:06 PM on 04/18/2008

There is something weirdly sexy about Putin, he may be a short little man with a head like a garden knome but he is definitely someone your would want around if a burglar breaks into your house. As former KGB, he is trained to kill with his bare hands.

In saying that I'm pissed off that the European media is going gaga over this when he has set his nukes back pointing towards all our cities. I don't blame him, since EU leaders are grubbily eyeing his oil and gas reserves, wish they'd report the real news.

[DRaymond]

06:57 PM on 04/18/2008

Ah Rythmic Gymnastics, the sport that makes millions of men wish they could be red rubber balls

[escobar]

05:13 PM on 04/18/2008

To think...poor Paul McArtney.
Putin would do well to take a good look at his life and enjoy the fun and fantasy for a while.
His wife will get better looking by the hour and by the beer...so will he.

[geg]

05:45 PM on 04/18/2008

According to the update, Putin said, "There is not a single word of truth." He also said, "I have always had a negative opinion of those who, with their snotty noses and their erotic fantasies, meddle in other people's lives" (according to the translation.)
.

[dora rice]

04:35 PM on 04/18/2008

There is one woman who definitel needs an eye - lift and more. Just to spite him . But he does not only domineera whole country, he also probably domineers his wife. Although I can also understand him. He kept his figure. He looks good, he has no belly,and it's obvious he likes to watch
this 24 year old gymnast do some rhythmic gymnastics in his bedroom. he he

[dora rice]

04:24 PM on 04/18/2008

I can't blame him wanting still some fun in his old age. Women wither slowly but surely away after 50. By then a woman has to find another road for fulfillment. Education and street smarts and financial security help. A woman can be happy and satisfied for the rest of her life with good hobbies, in her profession, a lover, and more, rather then trying to be a playmate for her aging husband. A woman needs to work and prepare for her old age from day one. Sorry to say , that we don't teach our girls that. there is not always a husband around in her mature age.

[magen]

02:39 PM on 04/18/2008

Quote Putin-

"I will not marry this hot, young, sexy, in perfect shape gymnast."

"I will only bone her in fancy hotel rooms."

[tomcat27834]

02:32 PM on 04/18/2008

Some use a crystal ball...........................................



GW Bush "looked into his eyes and saw his soul"



the rest is history....................................................

[wm1066]

12:09 PM on 04/18/2008

Putin just forgave Lybia a 4 Billion dollar debt and set up Russian contractors to build everything in Lybia then went on to meet with Italy's Berlisconi and we get breaking news on his sex life!
Putin's influence in the world is being ignored while we look at his sex life.

[JohnFromCensornati]

01:06 PM on 04/18/2008

He likes chaos in the Middle East probably more than Cheney.
Keeps those oil prices up!

[escobar]

05:24 PM on 04/18/2008

He is not destroying his country and several generations of soldiers in the process..as is Cahney/Bush, their war sales people and countryless lawless mercinary thugs.
Americans need to take a good look at who has been actively fighting since WW2 and who has the massive offensively based naval and air and space armadas deployed all over the world. Bush is is selling an arms race in outer space he needs China to finance and build parts for.
Talk about stupid, short sighted, and greedy, it has never happened on such a scale before. Except before in the South.

[ExPatriot70]

10:36 AM on 04/18/2008

If it is true good for Putin. Actually I would vote for one of ours if he was doing the same. I don't give a damn who he is screwing as long as it not me, wake up people it don't matter as long as they do the job they are electid to do

[WilliePilgrim]

09:50 AM on 04/18/2008

Very much in keeping with our primate imperitives. She seeks a successful and powerful, prestigeous male with whom to mate and he seeks a young, fit and fertile mate, both wish to see their genes projected into the future. We, of course, use totally bogus moral outrage to mask our jealousy and dissatisfaction with our own envious lives. Ludmilla? Well, she will go to some disadvantaged place like Jamaica and have lots of sex with men who will find her corpulence attractive as an anecdotal fetish against starvation and an excellent opportunity to have theirown presige raised so that they can achieve reproductive success with younger and more fit, fertile women who will at last find them suitable as mates...simple, isn't it?

[Kassandra]

10:28 AM on 04/18/2008

If the human species would only recognize how very close to the gorillas and chimps we are, we MIGHT have a chance to move beyond this top-dog, alpha male, women as property to prove male genetic lines BS.

It really does seem to me that the reason men desire power and wealth if for this very reason; to procreate with young females. I am usually amazed at the capacity men have for picking a younger version of the same woman, I mean, look at the two of them!

I say why not? If only the Andros would stop having to involve the whole planet in their power games. And It would be a help if they actually THOUGHT about the FUTURES of their children instead of how many they can make a woman have in order to prove their virility!!!

PS: Vladimir DOES have a great bod............

[ddog323]

03:49 PM on 04/18/2008

Are you hot?

[realpolitic]

04:16 PM on 04/18/2008

You are so beautiful when you are angry!