# Vladimir Putin to divorce wife, marry smokin' hot, highly flexible young gymnast **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 18, 2008, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vladimir-putin-to-divorce-wife-marry-smokin-hot-highly-flexible-young-gymnast/445918 "2008-04-18T17:51:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2008, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vladimir-putin-to-divorce-wife-marry-smokin-hot-highly-flexible-young-gymnast/445918/1 "2008-04-18T17:51:40Z")
No matter what you might think of him as a world leader, you have to admit that the man has style: > [@](#): > > “So, Vladimir Putin, President of Russia, what do you see in a 24-year-old, sensationally beautiful gymnast with a penchant for posing semi-naked that you don’t see in your lovely, middle-aged, matronly wife Ludmilla?” > > It is also the kind of question that hardly needs answering for the millions who have tuned in to the YouTube film of Alina Kabaeva performing a decidedly provocative gymnastic routine. > > This sudden frenzied interest in a woman who, until yesterday, was frankly a rather obscure Russian athlete, comes after a Moscow newspaper reported that Mr Putin recently split with Ludmilla and is preparing to marry the young and very pretty Miss Kabaeva. I have to imagine that Bill Clinton is smacking himself right now for not thinking of this first. The article is [here](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/worldnews.html?in_article_id=560278&in_page_id=1811&ito=1490), and you can see her in action [here](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sBIQSm5Sos). Note that, while there’s no actual nudity in the article, there are some slightly racy photos. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Excellent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f19dbf/32.png) [@Mr.Excellent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Excellent)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2008, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vladimir-putin-to-divorce-wife-marry-smokin-hot-highly-flexible-young-gymnast/445918/2 "2008-04-18T18:08:58Z")
Good Lord - the article mentions that she’s also an MP. Let me be the first to say: Hottest. Parliamentarian. Ever. (With apologies to the lovely Yuliya Tymoshenko: [http://irishspy.typepad.com/public\_secrets/WindowsLiveWriter/Ukraineonthevergeofcivilwar\_E82C/yulia-tymoshenko-01[7].jpg](http://irishspy.typepad.com/public_secrets/WindowsLiveWriter/Ukraineonthevergeofcivilwar_E82C/yulia-tymoshenko-01%5B7%5D.jpg) ) ---
**Author:** ![Crescend](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Crescend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crescend)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2008, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vladimir-putin-to-divorce-wife-marry-smokin-hot-highly-flexible-young-gymnast/445918/3 "2008-04-18T18:13:35Z")
What can I say. For all his faults, the man has panache. ---
**Author:** ![scout1222](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/34f0e0/32.png) [@scout1222](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scout1222)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2008, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vladimir-putin-to-divorce-wife-marry-smokin-hot-highly-flexible-young-gymnast/445918/4 "2008-04-18T18:15:59Z")
Oh god, I love the photos of HIM. Shirtless! Look at those guns! Hee hee. She’s a pretty lady, that’s for sure. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2008, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vladimir-putin-to-divorce-wife-marry-smokin-hot-highly-flexible-young-gymnast/445918/5 "2008-04-18T18:17:14Z")
He’s going to need a bigger bed. ---
**Author:** ![Cornelius\_Tuggerson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/13edae/32.png) [@Cornelius\_Tuggerson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cornelius_Tuggerson)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2008, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vladimir-putin-to-divorce-wife-marry-smokin-hot-highly-flexible-young-gymnast/445918/6 "2008-04-18T18:27:38Z")
It is claimed that the Russian paper that originally made this claim has already been shut down. These guys work fast. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2008, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vladimir-putin-to-divorce-wife-marry-smokin-hot-highly-flexible-young-gymnast/445918/7 "2008-04-18T18:30:41Z")
I’m surprised that he isn’t suddenly widowed by a car _accident_. ---
**Author:** ![hotflungwok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/edb3f5/32.png) [@hotflungwok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hotflungwok)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2008, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vladimir-putin-to-divorce-wife-marry-smokin-hot-highly-flexible-young-gymnast/445918/8 "2008-04-18T18:38:54Z")
It’s good to be the king. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2008, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vladimir-putin-to-divorce-wife-marry-smokin-hot-highly-flexible-young-gymnast/445918/9 "2008-04-18T18:54:33Z")
That’s the answer to my invisible-to-women problem, then: become a world leader! Of course, that solution then invites other problems, like assassination and phone calls at 3AM. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2008, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vladimir-putin-to-divorce-wife-marry-smokin-hot-highly-flexible-young-gymnast/445918/10 "2008-04-18T18:58:07Z")
[QUOTE=ultrafilter] Note that, while there’s no actual nudity in the article, there are some slightly racy photos. [/QUOTE] Nice bush! ---
**Author:** ![Flander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8c91f0/32.png) [@Flander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flander)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2008, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vladimir-putin-to-divorce-wife-marry-smokin-hot-highly-flexible-young-gymnast/445918/11 "2008-04-18T19:10:55Z")
I’ve never seen a more beautiful interpretation of wearing your ass for a hat. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2008, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vladimir-putin-to-divorce-wife-marry-smokin-hot-highly-flexible-young-gymnast/445918/12 "2008-04-18T19:24:21Z")
[QUOTE=Flander] I’ve never seen a more beautiful interpretation of wearing your ass for a hat. [/QUOTE] Come here and kiss me on the lips, Vlad. Sure, can you move your pony tail. ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2008, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vladimir-putin-to-divorce-wife-marry-smokin-hot-highly-flexible-young-gymnast/445918/13 "2008-04-18T19:54:24Z")
[QUOTE=ultrafilter] you have to admit that the man has style: [/QUOTE] Style? :dubious: The Telegraph reports that it is untrue: > [@](#): > > Mr Putin said: “There is not a word of truth in this story. Politicians live in glass houses, everyone wants to know how they live, but there are limits and there is a private life and these limits should be respected.” ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2008, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vladimir-putin-to-divorce-wife-marry-smokin-hot-highly-flexible-young-gymnast/445918/14 "2008-04-18T20:01:47Z")
[QUOTE=Marley23] Nice bush! [/QUOTE] I found myself very angry at the bush. ---
**Author:** ![Wilson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/96bed5/32.png) [@Wilson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wilson)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2008, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vladimir-putin-to-divorce-wife-marry-smokin-hot-highly-flexible-young-gymnast/445918/15 "2008-04-18T20:13:20Z")
It’s all bush’s fault. ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2008, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vladimir-putin-to-divorce-wife-marry-smokin-hot-highly-flexible-young-gymnast/445918/16 "2008-04-18T20:26:00Z")
[QUOTE=NinetyWt] Style? :dubious: The Telegraph reports that it is untrue: [/QUOTE] No, the Telegraph reports that Putin claims it’s untrue. Big difference. ---
**Author:** ![Triskadecamus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b19c9b/32.png) [@Triskadecamus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Triskadecamus)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2008, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vladimir-putin-to-divorce-wife-marry-smokin-hot-highly-flexible-young-gymnast/445918/17 "2008-04-18T20:40:52Z")
Yeah. The Telegraph never says anything is untrue. Tris ---
**Author:** ![Flander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8c91f0/32.png) [@Flander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flander)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2008, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vladimir-putin-to-divorce-wife-marry-smokin-hot-highly-flexible-young-gymnast/445918/18 "2008-04-18T20:58:30Z")
Of course it’s untrue…She’s mine. I’ve been folding Alina into Tantric pretzels for a few weeks now. 🆒 _Why doesn’t anyone believe me?_ ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2008, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vladimir-putin-to-divorce-wife-marry-smokin-hot-highly-flexible-young-gymnast/445918/19 "2008-04-18T21:30:10Z")
[QUOTE=ultrafilter] No, the Telegraph reports that Putin claims it’s untrue. Big difference. [/QUOTE] Oh well. _shrug_ Didn’t mean to harsh your mellow there. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2008, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vladimir-putin-to-divorce-wife-marry-smokin-hot-highly-flexible-young-gymnast/445918/20 "2008-04-18T22:31:50Z")
[QUOTE=Mr. Excellent] Good Lord - the article mentions that she’s also an MP. Let me be the first to say: Hottest. Parliamentarian. Ever. [/QUOTE] Nah, I still have to go with Finland’s [Oras Tynkkynen](http://www.orastynkkynen.fi/?page_id=6). (I had the opportunity to meet him at the International LGBT Rights Conference two years ago. As well as the youngest and first openly gay MP in Finland, I believe that at the time he was the world’s only politician with a faux-hawk.) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vladimir-putin-to-divorce-wife-marry-smokin-hot-highly-flexible-young-gymnast/445918.md?page=2)