Alina Kabaeva is a Russian politician, media manager and retired rhythmic gymnast. She has been designated Honoured Master of Sports by the Russian government as a teenager. She is one of the most decorated gymnasts in rhythmic gymnastics history who has won two Olympic medals, 14 World Championship medals, and 21 European Championship medals. However, her illustrious career was tainted by doping charges in 2001. She became active in politics in the second half of the 2000s and served as a State Duma Deputy from United Russia from 2007 to 2014, when she was appointed chairwoman of the board of directors of the National Media Group. She is popularly known as the longtime mistress of Russian president Vladimir Putin and may have children with him. She has been criticized for being appointed to political and media posts with high salary despite her lack of experience.
