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Putin Set to Wed 24-Year-Old Gymnast

Posted Apr 17, 08 5:31 PM CDT in Gossip,  World 

(Newser) – Vladimir Putin is said to be preparing to marry a 24-year-old star Russian gymnast, the Telegraph reports. Rumors of the 56-year-old president’s courtship to Alina Kabaeva have been swirling around Moscow for months, but were recently printed by a Russian newspaper that found a St. Petersburg event planner who said he was organizing a wedding for the couple.

Though not officially separated from his wife, Ludmilla, Putin is said to have dumped her two months ago. The wedding is set for mid-June, about a month after Putin will formally cede the presidency to Dmitry Medvedev. Kabaeva has earned a prominent place in the gymnastics world and represented Russia at the Olympics in Sydney and Athens.

Source Daily Telegraph (UK)

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Former world champion Alina Kabaeva of Russia performs with a ribbon during the Ion Cup rythmic gymnastics competition at Ise city in Mie prefecture, central Japan 15 November 2006.   ((STR/AFP/Getty Images))
Alina Kabaeva presents her gold medal of individual competition in 'Budapest Arena' , 27 September 2003 during the fourth day in the 26th Rhytmic Gymnastics World Championships.   ((ATTILA KISBENEDEK/AFP/Getty Images))
Russian President Vladimir Putin waves at the end of a two-day visit in Tripoli, Libya Thursday, April 17, 2008.   (AP Photo/Abdel Magid Al Fergany)
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Russia • Vladimir Putin • Dmitry Medvedev • prime minister • United Russia • mistress • Alina Kabaeva


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