Alina Kabaeva

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Template:Short description Template:Pp-vandalism Template:Expand Russian Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox gymnast Alina Maratovna KabaevaTemplate:Family name footnoteTemplate:Efn (or Kabayeva;<ref name=":0" /> born 12 May 1983) is a Russian politician, media manager, and retired individual rhythmic gymnast, who has been designated Honoured Master of Sports by the Russian government.<ref name=ESPN>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Kabaeva is one of the most decorated gymnasts in rhythmic gymnastic history, with 2 Olympic medals, 14 World Championship medals, and 21 European Championship medals. She is reportedly the longtime partner of Russian president Vladimir Putin.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Alina Kabayeva. Family of Putin. (Russian), by Lyubov Sobol of the Anti-Corruption Foundation</ref>

From 2007 to 2014, Kabaeva was a State Duma deputy from United Russia. In September 2014, Kabaeva became the chairwoman of the board of directors of the National Media Group.

Early life and family

Kabaeva was born on 12 May 1983 in Tashkent, Uzbek SSR, Soviet Union,<ref name="ESPN" /> the daughter of Lyubov Kabaeva and Marat Kabayev, a professional football player.<ref name=Heavy-220306>Template:Cite web</ref> Her father is a Muslim Tatar<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and her mother is Russian.<ref name=Heavy-220306/> 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Due to Marat's career, the family often travelled to different places in Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Russia.<ref name=Heavy-220306/>

Rhythmic gymnastics career

Early career

Kabaeva started rhythmic gymnastics at age three with coach Margarita Samuilovna.<ref>Alina Kabaeva. My teachers Template:Webarchive. Kabaeva-alina.com. Retrieved 16 December 2010.</ref> At age seven, her mother took her to a club in Tashkent, where she was turned away for being too heavy.<ref name=":1">Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref name=":2">Template:Cite news</ref> In 1993, she represented Kazakhstan at an international competition in Japan.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

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.<ref name=":1" /> 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.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /> Kabaeva later said that she begged Viner for food.<ref name=":2" /> Kabaeva's mother initially returned to Tashkent, though she called and visited frequently until she moved to Moscow with Kabaeva's younger sister.<ref name=":1" />

1996–1999

File:Alina Kabáyeva 1999 Budapest.PNG
Kabaeva at the 1999 European Championships

Kabaeva made her international debut representing Russia in 1996 and won two silver all-around medals, both behind Yulia Raskina.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The next year, she won every junior event she competed in and placed 4th in the senior category at the Russian Championships.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

In 1998, her first year as an international senior, the 15-year-old Kabaeva won the 1998 European Championships in Portugal.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=SR />

2001–2004

File:Medalistswaving-syd2000-600pxl.JPG
(L–R) Alina Kabaeva (bronze), Yulia Barsukova (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.<ref name=rem>Template:Cite web</ref>

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.<ref name=rem/> 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=SR />

2005–2007

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

In October 2004, Kabaeva announced her retirement from the sport.<ref>Olympic rhythmic gymnastics champion Kabaeva retires, 11 October 2004. GYMmedia. Retrieved 16 December 2010 Template:Webarchive</ref> However, in June 2005, the Russian Head Coach Irina Viner announced a possible comeback.<ref>XXI. European Championships of RG – qualifications/ Will Kabaeva return?, 10 June 2005. GYMmedia. Retrieved 16 December 2010. Template:Webarchive</ref> Kabaeva resumed her sport career at an Italy-Russia friendly competition in Genoa, on 10 September 2005.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref>Kabaeva is back! She won three of five Grand Prix Finals, GYMmedia, 5 March 2006. GYMmedia.com. Retrieved 16 December 2010 Template:Webarchive</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Kabaeva did qualify for the ribbon final where she won a bronze medal behind Sessina and Ukraine's Anna Bessonova.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

2008 Beijing Olympics

The plans for Kabaeva's participation in the 2008 Olympics<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> were repeatedly announced, but this did not happen.

Doping scandal

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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Contributions to rhythmic gymnastics

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.<ref name="RG named elements">RG named elements Template:Webarchive Gym Power</ref>

Rhythmic gymnastic achievements

Detailed Olympic results

File:Alina Kabáyeva 2001 Madrid.PNG
Kabaeva at the 2001 World Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships
Year Competition Description Location Music<ref name=rgmusic>Template:Cite web</ref> Apparatus Score-Final Score-Qualifying
2004 Olympics Athens All-around 108.400 105.875
Sphynx by Giampiero Ponte Ribbon 27.100 26.100
Syrtaki by D. Moutsis Ball 27.350 27.250
Carmen's entrance and Habanera
by Georges Bizet 		Hoop 26.800 26.050
Sphynx (Club Mix) by Giampiero Ponte, Moran Clubs 27.150 26.475
Year Competition Description Location Music Apparatus Score-Final Score-Qualifying
2000 Olympics Sydney All-around 39.466 39.691
Dilorom / Yor Yor
by Yulduz Usmanova and Shahzod 		Ribbon 9.950 9.925
Felicia by Luis Bravo Ball 9.950 9.925
Les Toreadors by Georges Bizet Hoop 9.651 9.925
Tsyganochka Rope 9.925 9.916

Routine music information

Post-retirement

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.<ref name=NW130612>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Political and media careers

Since 2005, Kabaeva has been a member of the Public Chamber of Russia.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Since February 2008, she has been chairwoman of the Public Council of the National Media Group, the media group that controls Izvestia, Channel One and REN TV.<ref>NMG Public Council Template:Webarchive. nm-g.ru</ref>

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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> She has faced criticism for her lack of experience and high salary when appointed to political and media posts.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Other ventures

In 2001, Kabaeva appeared in the Japanese movie, Red Shadow, performing a gymnastics routine.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In January 2011, Kabaeva appeared on the cover of Vogue Russia.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In the same month, she launched her singing career, taking to the stage for the first time.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Sanctions

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.<ref name=WSJ-20220424>Template:Cite news</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

On 13 May 2022, Kabaeva and her grandmother Anna Zatseplina were sanctioned by the United Kingdom.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On 27 May, Canada imposed sanctions on Kabaeva.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On 3 June, she was sanctioned by the European Union.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> On 1 July, she was sanctioned by Australia.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Personal life

File:PutinKabaeva2.jpg
President Vladimir Putin 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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The story was denied and the newspaper was shut down.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> 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.<ref name=NW130612/>

In July 2013, Kabaeva said that she did not have children.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In March 2015, she was reported to have given birth to a daughter at the VIP hospital of Saint Ann in Ticino, Switzerland.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 2019, she reportedly gave birth to twin sons at the Kulakov maternity clinic in Moscow.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

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.<ref name=WSJ-20220424/>

Honours

Notes

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References

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