Alina Kabaeva
Alina Kabayeva, President Vladimir Putin's long-rumored girlfriend, in Moscow, Russia, on Jan. 13, 2012.
Mikhail Metzel/AP

A decorated gymnast, a politician, and a top executive of Russia's largest media company are just some of the things that Alina Kabaeva has accomplished.

No facet of the 39-year-old's life has put her in the international spotlight more than her relationship with the Russian president.

There is a smoke screen in front of the alleged relationship which has been going on for more than a decade. According to The New York Times, there were rumors in 2008 that Putin secretly divorced his wife to have a relationship with a gymnast.

Putin told reporters in 2008 that he disliked those who broke into other people's private affairs because of their erotic fantasies.

Kabaeva's ties to Putin are acknowledged by most of the western order.

In August, seven months after Russia invaded Ukraine, the US Treasury Department joined the UK, Canada, and European Union in imposing sanctions on her.

This is what we know about the person.

Alina Kabaeva Sydney 2000 Olympic Games
Kabaeva competing at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.
Kazuhiro NOGI/AFP/Getty

A sport thatInvolves gymnastics, dance, incredible flexibility, and control of a separate object such as a ball, hoop, or ribbon, is called rhythmic gymnastics.

She won 21 European Championship medals, 14 World Championship medals, and 2 Olympic medals.

She started training at the age of 3 according to an archive bio page on her personal website.

In 2001 Kabaeva was involved in a DOPING scandal after she tested positive for using a diuretic that is sometimes used to mask the presence of performance- enhancing drugs in urine.

The athlete said the drug came from a pill he bought at the pharmacy. She was suspended in 2002 and had to give back her medals.

After being suspended, Kabaeva won an Olympic gold medal. Since 2007, she hasn't competed.

Vladimir Putin and Alina Kabaeva
Putin speaks with Kabaeva on November 4, 2004.
ITAR-TASS, Presidential Press Service/AP

The long-rumored relationship between Putin and Kabaeva hasn't been confirmed.

According to The New York Times, there was an article in a Russian tabloid in 2008 that claimed that Putin was going to marry Kabaeva. Putin was married to another woman.

Putin announced his separation from his wife.

The parent company of the tabloid paper said it will close due to financial reasons.

The president's whereabouts were unknown to the public for about a week after he had his third child.

According to Putin's press secretary, the information on the birth of a baby by Putin is not true.

Alina Kabaeva Vladimir Putin Russia