Alina Kabaeva

Kabaeva was born on 12 May 1983 in Tashkent, Uzbek SSR, Soviet Union, the daughter of Lyubov Kabaeva and Marat Kabayev, a professional football player.{{cite web|url=https://heavy.com/news/alina-kabaeva-kabayeva/|title=Alina Kabaeva: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know|last=McBride|first=Jessica|date=6 March 2022|publisher=Heavy|archive-url=https://archive.today/20220324203709/https://heavy.com/news/alina-kabaeva-kabayeva/|archive-date=24 March 2022|url-status=live|access-date=24 March 2022}} Her father is a Muslim Tatar{{Cite web|title=Marat Kabaev: The Islamic World wants to be friends with Russia|url=https://capitalideas.moscow/marat-kabaev-the-islamic-world-wants-to-be-friends-with-russia/|access-date=29 January 2022|website=CAPITAL IDEAS|language=en-GB|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191030122633/https://capitalideas.moscow/marat-kabaev-the-islamic-world-wants-to-be-friends-with-russia/|archive-date=30 October 2019|url-status=dead}} and her mother is Russian. Her younger sister, Leysan Kabaeva, is the general director of a real estate agency and in 2016 was appointed as a judge of the Almetyevsk City Court in Tatarstan by Russian president Vladimir Putin.{{cite web|url=https://sport24.ru/news/other/2020-06-02-sestra-aliny-kabayeva-leysan-foto-lichnaya-zhizn-chem-zanimayetsya|title=Сестра Алины Кабаевой Лейсан: как выглядит и чем занимается|date=2 June 2020|website=sport24.ru|language=ru|archive-url=https://archive.today/20220324205349/https://sport24.ru/news/other/2020-06-02-sestra-aliny-kabayeva-leysan-foto-lichnaya-zhizn-chem-zanimayetsya|archive-date=24 March 2022|url-status=live|access-date=24 March 2022}} Due to Marat's career, the family often travelled to different places in Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Russia.

Kabaeva started rhythmic gymnastics at age three with coach Margarita Samuilovna.[http://www.kabaeva-alina.com/life/my_teachers/ Alina Kabaeva. My teachers] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100926103644/http://www.kabaeva-alina.com/life/my_teachers/ |date=26 September 2010 }}. Kabaeva-alina.com. Retrieved 16 December 2010. At age seven, her mother took her to a club in Tashkent, where she was turned away for being too heavy.{{Cite magazine |last=Ivanov |first=Mikhail |last2=Kolesnikova |first2=Valentina |last3=Mironova |first3=Valeriya |date=April 2000 |title=Alina |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/223999787/8BC0C9925FF44450PQ/1 |access-date=2025-06-04 |magazine=Russian Life |pages=39–41 |volume=43 |issue=2}}{{Cite news |last=Kessel |first=Anna |date=2007-06-02 |title=Meet the new Russian divas |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2007/jun/03/features.sport7 |access-date=2025-06-04 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}} In 1993, she represented Kazakhstan at an international competition in Japan.{{cite web|url=https://tengrinews.kz/story/alina-kabaeva-roditelyam-jila-pavlodare-vospominaniya-druga-369220/|title=Как Алина Кабаева с родителям жила в Павлодаре. Воспоминания друга семьи|date=16 May 2019|publisher=tengrinews.kz|language=ru|access-date=1 August 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.caravan.kz/news/zimojj-v-pavlodare-bylo-okh-kak-neprosto-rodivshaya-dvojjnyu-kabaeva-o-svoejj-zhizni-v-kazakhstane-540159/|title="Зимой в Павлодаре было ох как непросто": родившая двойню Кабаева о своей жизни в Казахстане|date=15 May 2019|publisher=caravan.kz|language=ru|access-date=1 August 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.sports.kz/news/marat-kabaev-byivalo-sponsiroval-sbornuyu-kazahstana-po-hudojestvennoy-gimnastike|title=Марат Кабаев: "Бывало, спонсировал сборную Казахстана по художественной гимнастике"|date=27 February 2014|publisher=sports.kz|language=ru|access-date=1 August 2022}}

At age 12, Kabaeva moved to Moscow, where her mother took her to the Russian head coach, Irina Viner. Viner initially thought she was too short and overweight for gymnastics, but she decided to accept her after watching her practice and seeing her flexibility and jumps. However, she insisted that Kabaeva lose weight immediately; Kabaeva was only allowed to have water for three days, and she was put on a strict diet while training intensively. Kabaeva later said that she begged Viner for food. Kabaeva's mother initially returned to Tashkent, though she called and visited frequently until she moved to Moscow with Kabaeva's younger sister.

File:Alina Kabáyeva 1999 Budapest.PNG]]

Kabaeva made her international debut representing Russia in 1996 and won two silver all-around medals, both behind Yulia Raskina.{{Cite web |title=9. Int. Tournament / Grand Prix in Ljubljana, Slovenia (13.-14. April 1996) |url=https://rsg.net/cgi-bin/show?events/1996/gp_ljubljana_96.html |access-date=2025-06-04 |website=rsg.net}}{{Cite web |title=9. Opale Cup in Calais, France (8.-10. March 1996) |url=https://rsg.net/cgi-bin/show?events/1996/oc_calais_96_j.html#Jall_around |access-date=2025-06-04 |website=rsg.net}} The next year, she won every junior event she competed in and placed 4th in the senior category at the Russian Championships.{{Cite magazine |last=Crumlish |first=John |date=September 1998 |title=All around the world |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/214005541/5CA766221C1441C9PQ/7 |access-date=2025-06-04 |magazine=International Gymnast |pages=43–45 |volume=40 |issue=8/9}}

In 1998, her first year as an international senior, the 15-year-old Kabaeva won the 1998 European Championships in Portugal.{{Cite web |title=14. European Championships in Porto-Matosinhos, Portugal (28.-31. May 1998) |url=https://rsg.net/cgi-bin/show?events/1998/em_porto_98.html |access-date=2025-06-04 |website=rsg.net}} At the time, she was the youngest member of the Russian squad, competing alongside internationally recognized teammates Amina Zaripova and Yana Batyrshina as well as Irina Tchachina. Later in the year, she won the World Youth Games, held in Moscow, and won the all-around and three of the four event finals at the 1998 Goodwill Games.{{Cite magazine |last=Crumlish |first=John |date=October 1998 |title=Grinning Combination |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/213998289/9BF218660D7340C5PQ/5 |access-date=2025-06-04 |magazine=International Gymnast |page=24 |volume=40 |issue=10}}

Kabaeva then became the 1999 European Champion in Hungary and won the 1999 World title in Osaka, Japan. Kabaeva went on to win a total of 5 all-around titles at the European Championships.

At the 2000 Sydney Olympics, in Australia, Kabaeva was expected to claim the gold medal in the all-around; however, due to an error in an otherwise clean performance—she dropped her hoop, and ran to retrieve it outside of the competition area—Kabaeva won the bronze medal, with the final score of 39.466 (Rope 9.925, Hoop 9.641, Ball 9.950, Ribbon 9.950). Belarus's Yulia Raskina took the silver medal, while fellow Russian teammate, Yulia Barsukova, won the Olympic gold medal.{{cite web|date=4 April 2017|title=ESPN Medal Tracker – Individual Medals|url=http://www.espn.com/oly/summer04/medals?eventId=159|access-date=4 April 2017|publisher=ESPN, USA|archive-date=5 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170405170034/http://www.espn.com/oly/summer04/medals?eventId=159|url-status=live}}{{cite web|date=4 April 2017|title=ESPN Medal Tracker – Summer Olympics Medals|url=http://www.espn.com/oly/summer04/history?event=159|access-date=4 April 2017|publisher=ESPN, USA|archive-date=4 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170404220130/http://www.espn.com/oly/summer04/history?event=159|url-status=dead}}

File:Medalistswaving-syd2000-600pxl.JPG (gold) and Yulia Raskina (silver) at 2000 Olympic Games podium]]

At the 2001 World Championships in Madrid, Spain, Kabaeva won the gold medal for the Ball, Clubs, Hoop, Rope, the Individual All-Around, and the Team competitions. At the 2001 Goodwill Games in Brisbane, Australia, Kabaeva won the gold medal for the Ball, Clubs, and Rope competitions, and the Silver in the Individual All-Around, and Hoop. However, Kabaeva and her teammate, Irina Tchachina, tested positive to a banned diuretic (furosemide), and were stripped of their medals.{{cite web |url=https://rhythmic-gymnastics.info/tag/alina-kabaeva/ |title=Rhythmic Gymnastics – Alina Kabaeva |date=4 April 2017 |publisher=Rhythmic Gymnastics, Spain |website=Rhythmic-Gymnastics.info |access-date=4 April 2017 |archive-date=4 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170404221512/https://rhythmic-gymnastics.info/tag/alina-kabaeva/ |url-status=live }}

Viner, the Russian head coach, who also served as the Vice President of the FIG Rhythmic Gymnastics Technical Committee at the time, said her gymnasts had been taking a food supplement called "Hyper", that contained mild diuretics, which, according to Viner, the gymnasts were taking for premenstrual syndrome. When the supply ran out shortly before the Goodwill Games, the team physiotherapist restocked at a local pharmacy. According to Viner, the supplement sold there was fake and contained furosemide. The Committee requested that the Goodwill Games Organizing Committee nullify Kabaeva and Tchachina's results. The FIG also nullified their results from the World Championships in Madrid, causing Ukraine's Tamara Yerofeeva to be declared the 2001 world champion. Kabaeva was not allowed to participate in competitions from August 2001 to August 2002. Her first international competition after the ban was the 2002 European Championships, where she took first place in the individual all-around.

Kabaeva gained the 2003 World Title in Budapest, Hungary.{{cite web |url=https://www.mordinson.com/alinakabaeva.html |title=Alina Kabaeva is Russia's Most Successful Rhythmic Gymnast |publisher=A MORDINSON INTRODUCTION, Kharkov, Ukraine |date=4 April 2017 |access-date=4 April 2017 |archive-date=4 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170404221211/https://www.mordinson.com/alinakabaeva.html |url-status=live }} Kabaeva won the All-Around Gold Medal at the 2003 World Championships, as well as the event final in Ribbon and Ball ahead of Anna Bessonova from Ukraine.

In 2004, Kabaeva won the All-Around Gold at the 2004 European Championships in Kyiv, Ukraine. At the 2004 Athens Olympics, Greece, Kabaeva won the gold medal in the Individual All-Around for Rhythmic Gymnastics, with a score of 108.400 (Hoop 26.800, Ball 27.350, Clubs 27.150, Ribbon 27.100), the Silver Medal went to her teammate, Irina Tchachina.{{cite news|date=16 December 2005|title=Results – 29 August 2004|work=BBC Sport|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/olympics_2004/results/default.stm|access-date=17 April 2008|archive-date=8 April 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080408194036/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/olympics_2004/results/default.stm|url-status=live}}

File:PutinKabaeva.jpg presented Kabaeva with the Order "For Merit to the Fatherland", IV degree, in 2005]]

In October 2004, Kabaeva announced her retirement from the sport.[http://gymmedia.com/prioNOlang_en.asp?id=1221&sp=2&rt=RG Olympic rhythmic gymnastics champion Kabaeva retires], 11 October 2004. GYMmedia. Retrieved 16 December 2010 {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120717031150/http://gymmedia.com/prioNOlang_en.asp?id=1221&sp=2&rt=RG |date=17 July 2012 }} However, in June 2005, the Russian Head Coach Irina Viner announced a possible comeback.[http://gymmedia.com/prioNOlang_en.asp?id=1449&sp=2&rt=RG XXI. European Championships of RG – qualifications/ Will Kabaeva return?], 10 June 2005. GYMmedia. Retrieved 16 December 2010. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120717031247/http://gymmedia.com/prioNOlang_en.asp?id=1449&sp=2&rt=RG |date=17 July 2012 }} Kabaeva resumed her sport career at an Italy-Russia friendly competition in Genoa, on 10 September 2005.{{cite web|url=http://www.zampablu.it//blu/RG/genova05_vd/genova05_vd.html|title=RG: Genova 2005|date=2005|website=www.zampablu.it|language=it|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070208051314/http://www.zampablu.it//blu/RG/genova05_vd/genova05_vd.html|archive-date=8 February 2007|url-status=dead}} On 5 March 2006, Kabaeva won the Gazprom Moscow Grand Prix, with fellow Russians Vera Sessina and Olga Kapranova, taking the Second and Third places.[http://gymmedia.com/prioNOlang_en.asp?id=1773&sp=2&rt=RG Kabaeva is back! She won three of five Grand Prix Finals], GYMmedia, 5 March 2006. GYMmedia.com. Retrieved 16 December 2010 {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120204081317/http://gymmedia.com/prioNOlang_en.asp?id=1773&sp=2&rt=RG |date=4 February 2012 }} Kabaeva won the silver medal in All-Around at the 2006 European Championships, behind teammate, Sessina.

At the 2007 European Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan; Kabaeva, Sessina, and Kapranova were chosen to represent Russia. However, on the eve of the competition, Kabaeva withdrew due to an injury. Viner selected rising upcoming gymnast Evgenia Kanaeva from Russia's National Team as the replacement.{{cite web |title=Alina Kabaeva won't compete in the European Championship because of the injury |url=https://allsportinfo.ru/index.php?id=6732&b=4&l=40 |website=All Sport Info |access-date=8 June 2024 |date=24 June 2006}} Kabaeva finished fourth in all-around qualifications at the 2007 World Championships but did not advance into the finals due to the two per country rule, with Vera Sessina and Olga Kapranova placing ahead of her.{{cite web |url=https://static.usagym.org/PDFs/Results/Rhythmic/2007/07WorldChamps/aa-qual.pdf |title=28th Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships Patras (GRE) Results Individual All-Around Qualifications |website=USA Gymnastics |publisher=International Gymnastics Federation |access-date=8 June 2024 |date=19 September 2007}} Kabaeva did qualify for the ribbon final where she won a bronze medal behind Sessina and Ukraine's Anna Bessonova.{{cite web |url=https://static.usagym.org/PDFs/Results/r_07worlds_events.pdf |title=28th Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships Patras (GRE) Results Individual Apparatus Finals |website=USA Gymnastics |publisher=International Gymnastics Federation |access-date=8 June 2024 |pages=4 |date=19 September 2007}}

The plans for Kabaeva's participation in the 2008 Olympics{{Cite web|title=Кабаева передумала уходить из спорта|url=https://ytro.news/articles/2004/11/19/376239.shtml|access-date=15 October 2021|website=ytro.news|date=19 November 2004 }}{{Cite web|last=КОРОБАТОВ|first=Ярослав|date=28 March 2007|title=Главный тренер сборной России Ирина ВИНЕР: Кабаева готовится к Олимпиаде в Пекине|url=https://www.kp.ru/daily/23877/65160/|access-date=15 October 2021|website=kp.ru|language=ru}}{{Cite web|date=1 February 2008|title=Алина Кабаева мечтает об Олимпиаде|url=https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/848054|access-date=15 October 2021|website=www.kommersant.ru|language=ru}} were repeatedly announced, but this did not happen.

In 2001, Kabaeva and Irina Chashchina were convicted of using furosemide, as a result of which both were disqualified for two years. The athletes were stripped of all the awards of the 2001 Goodwill Games and World Cup. From August 2001 to August 2002, these gymnasts were not allowed to take part in any competitions. The second year of disqualification was given conditionally; that is, they were allowed to compete in official tournaments, but the strictest control was established over them.{{Cite web|last=Быстров|first=Денис|date=21 February 2002|title=Алину Кабаеву дисквалифицировали|url=https://iz.ru/news/258656|access-date=15 October 2021|website=Известия|language=ru}}

Kabaeva revolutionized rhythmic gymnastics as one of the few gymnasts to have performed new skills and elements, including the back split pivot with hand help (also known as "The Kabaeva"), the ring position with a slow full turn, and the backscale pivot that she first performed.[http://www.gympower.org/son-aiming-for-two-skills-to-be-named-after-her/ RG named elements] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160210143749/http://www.gympower.org/son-aiming-for-two-skills-to-be-named-after-her/ |date=10 February 2016 }} Gym Power

• Won the 1998 European Championships in the all-around in Porto, Portugal, at 15 years of age, the youngest ever to do so.
• Leveled with Elena Karpukhina as one of the youngest Rhythmic Gymnast to win the All-Around World Championships in 1999 Osaka at 16 years old, until Yana Kudryavtseva of the Russian Federation broke the record winning the All-Around 2013 World Championships at 15 years old.
• Performed the backscale pivot first.
• Holds the record for the most European All-Around titles, in 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, and 2004.
• Won all Grand-slam titles, and is only one of the three rhythmic gymnasts (with Ekaterina Serebrianskaya and Evgenia Kanaeva) ever to do so. The titles are: Olympics, World Championships, European Championships, World Cup Final, and Grand Prix Final.
• Became a six time Russian National All-Around Champion, in 1999, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2006, and 2007.

File:Alina Kabáyeva 2001 Madrid.PNG]]

Kabaeva was among the six Russian athlete torch bearers who carried the Olympic flame through Fisht Stadium during the Opening Ceremony of the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics. Her selection as a torch bearer generated controversy in the international media because of her alleged close relationship with President Vladimir Putin.{{cite web |url=http://www.newsweek.com/2013/06/12/alina-kabayeva-could-be-next-mrs-putin-237532.html |title=Alina Kabayeva Could Be The Next Mrs. Putin |date=12 June 2013 |first1=Anna |last1=Nemtsova |publisher=Newsweek, USA |access-date=29 April 2020 |archive-date=4 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180904084657/https://www.newsweek.com/2013/06/12/alina-kabayeva-could-be-next-mrs-putin-237532.html |url-status=live }}{{cite news |url=http://ftw.usatoday.com/2014/02/vladimir-putin-girlfriend-olympics-opening-ceremony-alina-kabaeva/ |title=Vladimir Putin's Rumored Girlfriend was a Controversial Olympic Torchbearer at Opening Ceremony |first1=Chris |last1=Chase |date=7 February 2014 |newspaper=USA Today |access-date=7 February 2014 |archive-date=8 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140208055936/http://ftw.usatoday.com/2014/02/vladimir-putin-girlfriend-olympics-opening-ceremony-alina-kabaeva/ |url-status=live }}

In 2015, Kabaeva was an honorary guest at the 2015 World Championships in Stuttgart, Germany. In 2017, she became the official FIG Rhythmic Gymnastics Ambassador at the 2017 World Championships in Pesaro, Italy.{{cite web|url=http://www.fig-gymnastics.com/site/figNews/view?id=1854|title=Alina Kabaeva announced as Gymnastics Ambassador for the 2017 Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships|publisher=International Federation of Gymnastics|access-date=17 August 2017|archive-date=21 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170821064010/http://www.fig-gymnastics.com/site/figNews/view?id=1854|url-status=live}}

Since 2005, Kabaeva has been a member of the Public Chamber of Russia.{{cite web|date=7 April 2017|title=Biography of Alina Kabayeva|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ka/alina-kabayeva-1.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417215053/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ka/alina-kabayeva-1.html|archive-date=17 April 2020|access-date=7 April 2017|publisher=Sports Reference LLC}} Since February 2008, she has been chairwoman of the Public Council of the {{ill|National Media Group|ru|Национальная Медиа Группа}}, the media group that controls Izvestia, Channel One and REN TV.[http://www.nm-g.ru/en/advice/ NMG Public Council] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170320151147/http://nm-g.ru/en/advice/|date=20 March 2017}}. nm-g.ru

Between 2007 and 2014, Kabaeva was a Member of the Russian Parliament, the State Duma, representing Nizhnekamsk as a member of the United Russia party. In her capacity as a Member of Parliament, she voted for a number of controversial laws that were speedily adopted in 2012 and 2013, including the Anti-Magnitsky bill banning inter-country adoption (of Russian orphans) by families in the United States, as well as the Russian gay propaganda law making the distribution of "propaganda of non-traditional sexual relationships" among minors a punishable offense, the extrajudicial ban on access to websites which may host materials violating copyright laws, and the reorganization of the Academy of Sciences.{{cite news|author1=Руслан Исмаилов (Ruslan Ismailov)|author2=Ольга Братцева (Olga Brattseva)|date=21 December 2012|script-title=ru:"Дети вне политики!" Идеолог, свердловский депутат Госдумы "закона Димы Яковлева": "Дауны останутся в России. Всё!" "Они все – Лахова, Кабаева, Роднина – утратили право называться женщинами"|language=ru|trans-title="Children are out of politics!" Ideologist, Sverdlovsk State Duma deputy of the "Dima Yakovlev Law": "Downs will remain in Russia. Everything!" "They all – Lakhova, Kabaeva, Rodnina – have lost the right to be called women"|work=Znak.com|location=Yekaterinburg|url=http://www.znak.com/urfo/news/2012-12-21/1000691.html|url-status=live|access-date=27 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131212111244/http://www.znak.com/urfo/news/2012-12-21/1000691.html|archive-date=12 December 2013}}{{cite web|script-title=ru:Система анализа результатов голосований на заседаниях Государственной Думы|trans-title=The system of analysis of the results of voting at meetings of the State Duma|url=http://vote.duma.gov.ru/?convocation=AAAAAAA6&from=01.01.2012&deputy=99110976&sort=date_desc|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131213135834/http://vote.duma.gov.ru/?convocation=AAAAAAA6&from=01.01.2012&deputy=99110976&sort=date_desc|archive-date=13 December 2013|access-date=26 August 2013|publisher=State Duma|language=ru}}{{cite news |title=How a deputy from Nizhnekamsk leaves Okhotny Ryad |url=https://www.business-gazeta.ru/article/114306 |access-date=25 July 2023 |work=Business Online |date=15 September 2014}}

In September 2014, Kabaeva resigned from the Duma and accepted the position of chair of the board of directors of the National Media Group, the largest Russian media conglomerate.{{cite news|date=15 September 2014|title=Алина Кабаева станет председателем совета директоров "Национальной Медиа Группы"|language=ru|trans-title=Alina Kabaeva will become the chairman of the board of directors of the National Media Group|newspaper=TASS|url=http://itar-tass.com/ekonomika/1444241|url-status=live|access-date=15 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140916024032/http://itar-tass.com/ekonomika/1444241|archive-date=16 September 2014}} She has faced criticism for her lack of experience and high salary when appointed to political and media posts.{{cite news |last=Walker |first=Shaun |date=16 September 2014 |title=Putin's 'girlfriend' Alina Kabayeva to head pro-Kremlin media group |work=The Guardian |location=Moscow |publication-place=London |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/16/putin-girlfriend-alina-kabayeva-media-group |url-status=live |access-date=1 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210214223541/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/16/putin-girlfriend-alina-kabayeva-media-group |archive-date=14 February 2021}}{{Cite news|last=Bennetts|first=Marc|date=25 November 2020|title=President Putin's 'girlfriend' paid £7.7m a year to run media group|language=en|work=The Times|publisher=Times Newspapers|location=Moscow|publication-place=London|url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/putin-girlfriend-paid-7-7m-a-year-to-run-media-group-fllvfhz8s|url-status=live|url-access=subscription|access-date=27 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201127052543/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/putin-girlfriend-paid-7-7m-a-year-to-run-media-group-fllvfhz8s|archive-date=27 November 2020|issn=0140-0460}}

In 2001, Kabaeva appeared in the Japanese movie, Red Shadow, performing a gymnastics routine.{{cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1585617/ |title=Alina Kabaeva at IMDb |publisher=IMDb.com Inc., USA |website=IMDb.com |date=6 April 2017 |access-date=6 April 2017 |archive-date=13 February 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070213061419/https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1585617/ |url-status=live }}

In January 2011, Kabaeva appeared on the cover of Vogue Russia.{{cite web |url=http://www.fashionlover.com/4502/alina-kabaeva-vogue-russia-january-2011/ |title=Putin's Gymnast Alina Kabaeva Covers Vogue Russia January 2011 |date=13 December 2010 |publisher=Vogue Russia |website=FashionLover.com |access-date=23 March 2017 |archive-date=23 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170323234200/http://www.fashionlover.com/4502/alina-kabaeva-vogue-russia-january-2011/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Europe/2010/1215/Alina-Kabaeva-on-cover-of-Russia-s-Vogue-in-triumph-of-celebrity-politics |title=Alina Kabaeva on Cover of Russia's Vogue in Triumph of Celebrity Politics |date=15 December 2010 |publisher=Christian Science Monitor, USA |first1=Fred |last1=Weir |access-date=7 April 2017 |archive-date=8 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170408082555/http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Europe/2010/1215/Alina-Kabaeva-on-cover-of-Russia-s-Vogue-in-triumph-of-celebrity-politics |url-status=live }} In the same month, she launched her singing career, taking to the stage for the first time.{{cite web |url=https://www.cosmo.ru/search/?query=alina+kabaeva

|title=Alina Kabaeva – List of Cosmopolitan Russia Articles |date=16 May 2017 |publisher=Cosmopolitan Russia |access-date=16 May 2017}}

Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, sanctions were imposed on numerous Russian political and business leaders. In April 2022, the United States Department of the Treasury prepared sanctions against Kabaeva, however the United States government withheld the sanctions for fear of escalating tensions between Russia and the United States due to her alleged relationship with Putin.{{cite news|last1=Salama|first1=Vivian|last2=Parkinson|first2=Joe|last3=Hinshaw|first3=Drew|date=24 April 2022|title=U.S. Withholds Sanctions on a Very Close Putin Associate: His Alleged Girlfriend|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-withholds-sanctions-on-a-very-close-putin-associate-his-alleged-girlfriend-11650816894|url-status=live|work=The Wall Street Journal|archive-url=https://archive.today/20220424164742/https://www.wsj.com/amp/articles/u-s-withholds-sanctions-on-a-very-close-putin-associate-his-alleged-girlfriend-11650816894|archive-date=24 April 2022|access-date=26 April 2022|url-access=subscription}} The Office of Foreign Assets Control added Kabaeva to the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List on 3 August 2022, which results in her assets being frozen and U.S. persons being prohibited from dealing with her.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/aug/02/putin-girlfriend-alina-kabaeva-us-sanctions-russia|title=Putin's reported girlfriend Alina Kabaeva hit with US sanctions|first=Ramon Antonio|last=Vargas|newspaper=The Guardian|date=3 August 2022|access-date=3 August 2022}}

On 13 May 2022, Kabaeva and her grandmother Anna Zatseplina were sanctioned by the United Kingdom.{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-sanctions-the-shady-network-funding-putins-lavish-lifestyle|title=UK sanctions the shady network funding Putin's lavish lifestyle|author1=Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office|author2=Liz Truss|date=13 May 2022|website=GOV.UK|access-date=13 May 2022|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20220513121627/https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-sanctions-the-shady-network-funding-putins-lavish-lifestyle|archive-date=13 May 2022}}{{cite news|last=Harvey|first=Sarah|date=13 May 2022|title=UK sanctions Vladimir Putin's alleged mistress Alina Kabaeva|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/uk-sanctions-vladimir-putin-mistress-gymnast-alina-kabaeva-b999851.html|url-status=live|work=Evening Standard|publisher=|archive-url=https://archive.today/20220513105756/https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/uk-sanctions-vladimir-putin-mistress-gymnast-alina-kabaeva-b999851.html|archive-date=13 May 2022|access-date=13 May 2022}}{{cite news|last=Walker|first=Peter|date=13 May 2022|title=UK sanctions target Putin's financial network including rumoured girlfriend|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/may/13/new-uk-russia-sanctions-target-putin-financial-network-ex-wife|url-status=live|work=The Guardian|archive-url=https://archive.today/20220513150042/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/may/13/new-uk-russia-sanctions-target-putin-financial-network-ex-wife|archive-date=13 May 2022|access-date=13 May 2022}} On 27 May, Canada imposed sanctions on Kabaeva.{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canada-putin-girlfriend-sanctions-1.6472426|title=Canada adds Putin's alleged girlfriend to the sanction list|date=31 May 2022|website=CBC News|publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|agency=The Canadian Press|access-date=2 June 2022|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20220602160841/https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canada-putin-girlfriend-sanctions-1.6472426|archive-date=2 June 2022}} On 3 June, she was sanctioned by the European Union.{{cite web|url=https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-sanction-putin-alleged-girlfriend-alina-kabaeva/|title=EU sanctions Putin's alleged girlfriend Alina Kabaeva|last=Moens|first=Barbara|date=3 June 2022|website=Politico|publisher=Axel Springer SE|access-date=5 June 2022|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20220605153120/https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-sanction-putin-alleged-girlfriend-alina-kabaeva/|archive-date=5 June 2022}}{{cite magazine|last=Jackson|first=Jon|date=3 June 2022|title=Putin's Rumored Girlfriend Sanctioned by EU|url=https://www.newsweek.com/putin-rumored-girlfriend-sanctioned-eu-1712766|url-status=live|magazine=Newsweek|archive-url=https://archive.today/20220615114107/https://www.newsweek.com/putin-rumored-girlfriend-sanctioned-eu-1712766|archive-date=15 June 2022|access-date=15 June 2022}} On 1 July, she was sanctioned by Australia.{{cite news|date=1 July 2022|title=Australia imposes new individual sanctions against Russia|url=https://kyivindependent.com/post/australia-imposes-new-individual-sanctions-against-russia|url-status=live|work=The Kyiv Independent|archive-url=https://archive.today/20220701172633/https://kyivindependent.com/post/australia-imposes-new-individual-sanctions-against-russia|archive-date=1 July 2022|access-date=1 July 2022}}

File:PutinKabaeva2.jpg and Kabaeva at the 2001 Russian Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships]]

In April 2008, the Moskovsky Korrespondent reported that Kabaeva was engaged to Russian president Vladimir Putin.{{cite news|title=Putin Romance Rumors Keep Public Riveted|date=18 April 2008|url=https://www.rferl.org/a/1109593.html|work=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty|access-date=29 April 2020|archive-date=19 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200519113613/https://www.rferl.org/a/1109593.html|url-status=live}} The story was denied and the newspaper was shut down.{{cite news|last=Herszenhorn|first=David M.|title=In the Spotlight of Power, Putin Keeps His Private Life Veiled in Shadows|date=5 May 2012|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/06/world/europe/preparing-return-to-presidency-putin-keeps-his-private-life-off-limits.html|work=The New York Times|access-date=29 April 2020|url-access=registration|archive-date=24 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200524135720/https://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/06/world/europe/preparing-return-to-presidency-putin-keeps-his-private-life-off-limits.html|url-status=live}} In the following years, the status of Kabaeva and Putin's relationship became a topic of speculation, including allegations that they have multiple children together.

In July 2013, Kabaeva said that she did not have children.{{Cite web|url=http://7days.ru/news/alina-kabaeva-detey-u-menya-net.htm|title=Алина Кабаева: "Детей у меня нет" – 7Дней.ру|website=7Дней.ру|access-date=28 September 2016|archive-date=21 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160921092519/http://7days.ru/news/alina-kabaeva-detey-u-menya-net.htm|url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=http://www.parismatch.com/People/Politique/Alina-Kabaeva-la-Seconde-dame-de-Russie-161729 |title=Alina Kabaeva, la Seconde Dame de Russie? |date=29 January 2013 |publisher=Paris Match, France |access-date=21 April 2017 |language=fr |archive-date=17 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170917125650/http://www.parismatch.com/People/Politique/Alina-Kabaeva-la-Seconde-dame-de-Russie-161729 |url-status=live }} In March 2015, she was reported to have given birth to a daughter at the VIP hospital of Saint Ann in Ticino, Switzerland.{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/14/world/europe/russia-putin-seen-in-public.html |title=Putin Has Vanished, but Rumors Are Popping Up Everywhere |date=14 March 2015 |first1=Neil |last1=MacFarquahar |publisher=The New York Times, USA |access-date=7 April 2017 |archive-date=16 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170916120116/https://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/14/world/europe/russia-putin-seen-in-public.html |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |url=http://www.nzz.ch/schweiz/geruechte-um-putin-nachwuchs-1.18501421 |title=Alina Kabajewa in Tessiner Privatklinik: Spekulationen um Putin-Nachwuchs |last1=Aschwanden |first1=E. |last2=Jankovsky |first2=P. |newspaper=Neue Zürcher Zeitung |language=de-CH |trans-title=Alina Kabaeva in Ticino private clinic: Speculations about Putin's offspring |issn=0376-6829 |date=13 March 2015 |access-date=28 September 2016 |archive-date=22 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160922191952/http://www.nzz.ch/schweiz/geruechte-um-putin-nachwuchs-1.18501421 |url-status=live }} In 2019, she reportedly gave birth to twin sons at the Kulakov maternity clinic in Moscow.{{cite news|last=Campbell|first=Matthew|date=26 May 2019|title=Kremlin silent on reports Vladimir Putin and Alina Kabaeva, his 'secret first lady', have had twins|url=https://www.thetimes.com/world/russia-ukraine-war/article/kremlin-silent-on-reports-vladimir-putin-and-alina-kabaeva-his-secret-first-lady-have-had-twins-dqvrpkrgc|work=The Times|access-date=23 October 2020|url-access=subscription|archive-date=23 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201023115624/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/kremlin-silent-on-reports-vladimir-putin-and-alina-kabaeva-his-secret-first-lady-have-had-twins-dqvrpkrgc|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last=Dettmer|first=Jamie|date=28 May 2019|title=Reports of Putin Fathering Twins Test Free Speech in Russia|url=https://www.voanews.com/a/reports-of-putin-fathering-twins-test-free-speech-in-russia/4935632.html|publisher=Voice of America|access-date=23 October 2020|archive-date=27 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027043120/https://www.voanews.com/europe/reports-putin-fathering-twins-test-free-speech-russia|url-status=live}} However, the Swiss newspaper SonntagsZeitung reported in 2022 that a Swiss gynecologist of Russian origin assisted at both births, stating that the first in 2015 was of a boy and the second in 2019 of another boy, and that both were Putin's sons.{{Cite web |last1=Besson |first1=Sylvain |last2=Odehnal |first2=Bernhard |title=Russisches Staatsgeheimnis – Putins Sohn wurde im Tessin geboren |url=https://www.derbund.ch/putins-sohn-wurde-im-tessin-geboren-648161452864 |access-date=1 May 2022 |website=SonntagsZeitung |date=30 April 2022 |language=de |url-access=registration}}

According to United States and European security officials, Kabaeva has spent long periods of time in Switzerland since 2015, at residences in Lugano and Cologny.

• Russia:
• Honoured Master of Sports of the Russian Federation (1999){{cite web|url=https://www.business-gazeta.ru/person/646|title=Кабаева Алина Маратовна|website=www.business-gazeta.ru|language=ru|access-date=21 February 2021|archive-date=24 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201124232415/https://www.business-gazeta.ru/person/646|url-status=live}}
• Order of Friendship (2001){{cite web|url=https://ria.ru/20160309/1387212342.html|title=Биография Алины Кабаевой|date=9 March 2016|website=Ria Novosti|language=ru|access-date=21 February 2021|archive-date=17 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191217150412/https://ria.ru/20160309/1387212342.html|url-status=live}}
• Order "For Merit to the Fatherland" IV Degree (2005)
• Russian Federation Presidential Certificate of Honour (2013)
• South Ossetia: Order of Honour (2015){{cite web|url=https://www.interfax-russia.ru/south-and-north-caucasus/photo/kabaeva-otkryla-sportkompleks-postroennyy-na-blagotvoritelnye-sredstva-v-yuzhnoy-osetii|title=Кабаева открыла спорткомплекс, построенный на благотворительные средства в Южной Осетии|date=13 October 2015|website=Interfax Russia|language=ru|access-date=21 February 2021|archive-date=6 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806161625/https://www.interfax-russia.ru/south-and-north-caucasus/photo/kabaeva-otkryla-sportkompleks-postroennyy-na-blagotvoritelnye-sredstva-v-yuzhnoy-osetii|url-status=live}}

{{Notelist}}

{{Reflist|refs=

{{cite web | url = http://www.vfrg.ru/index.php?dn=pages&to=cat&id=45 | title = Alina Kabaeva profile | publisher = Russian Rhythmic Gymnastics Federation | access-date = 1 May 2014 | archive-date = 2 May 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140502005144/http://www.vfrg.ru/index.php?dn=pages&to=cat&id=45 | url-status = live }}

{{cite Sports-Reference |title=Alina Kabayeva |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ka/alina-kabayeva-1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161203095551/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ka/alina-kabayeva-1.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 December 2016}}

}}

{{Commons category}}

• {{FIG|bio=22384|lic=2511|name=Alina Kabaeva}}
• {{Olympics.com|alina-kabaeva}}
• {{Olympedia}}
• {{Official website|https://kabaeva-alina.ru/}} {{in lang|ru}}

{{Footer Olympic Champions - Rhythmic Gymnastics - Individual All-Around}}

{{NavigationWorldChampionsRhythmicGymnasticsWomenAA}}

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{{Vladimir Putin}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kabaeva, Alina}}

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