Russian President Vladimir Putin has been a subject of media interest over the years, not just for political reasons. His personal life garnered controversies in 2013 following his divorce from his wife, Lyudmila. One name that has consistently surfaced is Alina Kabaeva, alleged to be Vladimir Putin’s girlfriend. The question lingers: Could she be Russia’s secret first lady? Who is Alina Kabaeva?
Alina Maratovna Kabaeva is a retired Russian rhythmic gymnast, politician, and media manager. Designated an Honoured Master of Sports by the Russian government, she has been believed to be Putin’s secret lover, allegedly having children with him. This has prompted many to question her life.
Who is Alina Kabaeva? Here are some facts about her
Alina Kabaeva’s personal life remains shrouded in mystery, lacking any disclosed romantic involvement, adding weight to speculations about her alleged relationship with Putin. Before these claims, she represented Russia on the grand athletic stage, earning numerous accolades. Here are intriguing facts about Putin’s rumoured secret lover.
Alina is from Uzbekistan
Born in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, Alina Kabaeva’s parents are Lyubov Kabaeva and Marat Kabayev. Her father is a Muslim Tatar, and her mother is Russian. Alina has a younger sister,
Leysan Kabaeva, who serves as the general director of a real estate agency. In 2016, Leysan was appointed as a judge of the Almetyevsk City Court in Tatarstan by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
She is 31 years younger than Putin
Alina Kabaeva and Putin share a significant age gap. Born on 12 May 1983, Alina Kabaeva’s age is 40 years as of 2024. This age difference exceeds three decades, making her more than 30 years younger than the Russian president, Putin, who was born in 1952 and is currently 71.
Her father is a former football player turned coach
Given her father’s sporting background, Alina Kabaeva’s athletic lineage is unsurprising. Marat Kabayev, Alina Kabaeva’s father, is a former professional soccer player.
He contributed to Pakhtakor Tashkent and Dnipro football clubs from 1980 to 1986 and 1989. Concluding his playing career in 1997, he transitioned to coaching.
He served as an assistant coach at Traktor Tashkent (2004–2005) and later became the head coach for the Uzbekistan U-18 team in 2009. Continuing his coaching journey, he eventually worked as a scout coach at Rubin Kazan since 2012.
She is a former rhythmic gymnast
Alina Kabaeva, once hailed as “Russia’s most flexible woman,” is a former rhythmic gymnast with a remarkable career. At age 3, she earned a reputation as one of Russia’s most decorated rhythmic gymnasts.
Her achievements include 21 European Championship medals, 14 World Championship medals, and two Olympic medals – one gold and one bronze.Â
Controversy arose in 2001 due to a doping scandal, with Kabaeva briefly banned and medals revoked. Despite challenges, she rebounded, winning Olympic gold in 2004 and retiring from competition in 2007.
Kabaeva and Putin first met in 2000
Kabaeva and Putin initially crossed paths in 2000 when she, at 18, secured a bronze medal in the Sydney Olympics. Speculations about their romantic involvement arose around her retirement from gymnastics at approximately 25, with Putin being around 55. The exact nature of their relationship remains unconfirmed, shrouded in persistent rumours since their first encounter.
She went into politics in 2007
Retiring from gymnastics around 2007, Alina Kabaeva transitioned to politics. That year, she entered the political arena by winning a seat in the State Duma, Russia’s lower parliament, representing Putin’s United Russia party.
Notably, Kabaeva championed a law preventing many Russian orphans from being adopted abroad. She concluded her political career in 2014 when she stepped away from politics.
She joined one of Russia’s largest media groups in 2014
Alina Kabaeva assumed the board of directors chair at the National Media Group, one of Russia’s major media conglomerates. After resigning from the State Duma, she took on this position around September 2014.
The National Media Group reportedly holds a 25% ownership stake in Channel One, Russia’s state-controlled TV channel, and maintains interests in other channels and newspapers.
Is Putin married to Alina Kabaeva?
Putin is not officially married to Alina Kabaeva. Despite longstanding rumours, Vladimir Putin and Alina Kabaeva have never officially confirmed their relationship. The speculation began in 2008, with a Russian tabloid reporting Putin’s plans to marry Kabaeva. Although Putin denied this, his divorce from Lyudmila in 2013 fueled the rumours.
Reports of their alleged children, including twin daughters born in Switzerland in 2015, emerged. The Kremlin consistently denied such assertions, and Kabaeva remained secretive about her personal life.
In 2022, a Swiss gynaecologist confirmed Kabaeva’s two sons, born in 2015 and 2019, attributing them to Putin, adding to the ongoing mystery surrounding Alina Kabaeva’s children.
What happened to Alina Kabaeva?
Alina Kabaeva faced sanctions due to her association with Vladimir Putin. In April 2022, the United States Department of the Treasury prepared sanctions against her, which were later withheld to avoid escalating tensions. On 3 August 2022, the Office of Foreign Assets Control froze her assets and restricted U.S. dealings.
The United Kingdom, Canada, the European Union, and Australia subsequently imposed sanctions on Kabaeva from May, June, and July 2022, respectively, contributing to a series of international measures against her.
What is Alina Kabaeva’s Net Worth?
Alina Kabaeva’s reported net worth is $10 million. In contrast, according to Celebrity Net Worth, Vladimir Putin’s net worth is above $70 billion, placing him among the world’s wealthiest individuals.
Alina Kabaeva swiftly transitioned from one of Russia’s most decorated rhythmic gymnasts to being dubbed Russia’s “secret first lady.” This acclaim has stirred controversy, consistently linking her name to being Vladimir Putin’s secret lover. Nonetheless, she continues to ascend in her pursuits, accumulating robust wealth and power over the years. So Who is Alina Kabaeva? Hope you’ve learnt some things about her
