Who is Alina Kabaeva? Vladimir Putin’s rumoured girlfriend and Olympic gold medal-winning gymnast

RUSSIAN President Vladimir Putin is rumored to be romantically linked to a gymnast for well over a decade.

Olympic gold medalist Alina Kabaeva, 38, is the rumored longtime girlfriend of the Russian president and is reportedly the mother of Putin's twins.

Who is Alina Kabaeva?

Born in 1983 in Uzbekistan, then part of the Soviet Union, Kabaeva grew up in a sporting family.

But from the age of three Kabaeva began her own sports career in rhythmic gymnastics, become a rising star in her teens.

She went on to win Gold at the 2004 Athens Games and Bronze at the 2000 in Sydney.

The Kremlin has constantly denied the Olympic gold medal winner was Putin's secret first lady, but speculation about the former loyalist MP has persisted, including claims they have children together.

The glamorous 38-year-old arrived alone at a central Moscow polling station for the 2018 Presidential Election – but appeared to be wearing a wedding ring.

When asked who she was voting for, she declined to say – but she made clear: “He will surely win.”

Is she Vladimir Putin's lover?

Kabeava was first linked to Putin in 2008 when it was reported by a Moscow newspaper run by media tycoon and former KGB spy Alexander Lebedev.

Vlad divorced his wife Lyudmila in 2013 and refuses to speak about his private life.

Kabaeva – dubbed “Russia’s First Mistress” – has gone on the record to deny she is the Russian president’s partner, but it has not stopped rumors that the pair are engaged, married and even have a secret family together.

In 2016, Kabaeva appeared in public wearing a ring on her wedding finger, which she seemed to attempt to hide from the cameras.

She was wearing the ring again during a rare TV interview in which the question all Russians wanted to ask was never discussed.

In February 2017, Kabaeva made another public appearance apparently showing off her wedding ring. at a gymnastics tournament in Moscow.

And in July of that year, Vlad almost accidentally revealed a mystery woman in his life when he was filmed opening a car door before swiftly slamming it shut.

Months later, Kabaeva teased Russians yet again by showing off what appeared to be a wedding ring on an outing in Italy.

Did Alina Kabaeva have twins with Vladimir Putin?

The ex-gymnast is alleged to have a secret family with Putin.

In 2017, there were rumors that Kabaeva was pregnant when she attended a girls’ gymnastics competition in Moscow wearing a loose-fitting red dress – which appeared to be hiding a bump.

A Russian newspaper then reported that the pair were engaged – but the story was denied and the paper was shut down by Kremlin authorities.

Stories that the couple had multiple children persisted after they were pictured together, forcing Kabaeva to finally deny having ever given birth.

A Moscow source told The Sun: “Putin is an intensely private man – he has been hiding his two adult daughters under fake IDs for years. Even now, though he talks about them occasionally, he never names them.

“If Alina gave birth to his children, her hiding away might be one of the strongest hints pointing to this. He is obsessive about the security of his family.”

Is Alina Kabaeva missing?

Kabaeva was not seen or heard of for well over two years, but in May 2021, she made a rare public statement directed at Russia's women gymnastics team.

The Olympic star told Russia's women gymnastics team that they were "ready and set to win for your country" at the Olympics.

According to the Daily Mail, Kabaeva was not pictured or filmed in her latest statement but was quoted saying to Russia's women gymnastics team, "I am very glad that we have all returned to the life we used to have, with training, competitions, tournaments and the Olympic Games.

"I know that every one of you has worked and trained hard, and that now you are ready and set to win for your country, for those who support you.

"At this long-awaited and exciting moment I want you to know that you are loved, supported, that people believe in you."

She declared: 'I will be praying for you, and will be watching the competitions.'

Before her latest statement, Kabaeva was not seen or heard from since she allegedly gave birth to twin boys in a Moscow hospital in 2019.

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