This is the woman who floored Vladimir Putin in a judo sparring session – prompting him to get up and kiss her on the head.
The Kremlin strongman said after last night’s training with Olympic judo medallist Natalia Kuzyutina, 29, in Sochi, southwestern Russia, that exercise helps people to ‘get real’.
Kuzyutina is said to have sent the 66-year-old Russian leader flying and she boasted afterwards about their sparring.
But so far images of the moment the judoka left him on the mat have not been released, prompting the Ukrainian media to claim a cover-up by Russian ‘propaganda’.
Taken down: Olympic judo medallist Natalia Kuzyutina (right) is said to have sent Vladimir Putin (left) flying during a judo session last night
The Kremlin strongman said after last night’s session with Olympic judo medallist Natalia Kuzyutina (pictured), 29, in Sochi, southern Russia, that exercise helps people to ‘get real’
At the same session – which began at 9pm following a day of tense talks with the leaders or Turkey and Iran culminating in a state banquet – Putin injured a finger on his right hand and required first aid, footage shows.
Olympic bronze winner Kuzyutina revealed how she had thrown Putin over her head in a middle-of-the-night posting.
‘Thank you President Putin that after such complex negotiation at the summit he found time for a full-scale quality training,’ she said.
‘I was glad yet again to be a sparring partner of the first judoist of our country!’
Putin said after the session: ‘It’s a well known medical fact – the level of adrenaline increases in a person who practices physical exercises, so your mood improves, and you take a different look on the world around you. I can probably say that it helps you to get real.’
Newspaper Moskovsky Komsomolets (MK) reported: ‘Kuzyutina was a lot pushier than fellow male sportsmen.
Olympic bronze winner Kuzyutina revealed how she had thrown Putin over her head in a middle-of-the-night posting. They are pictured together after the sparring session last night
So far images of the moment the judoka left Putin on the mat have not been released, prompting the Ukrainian media to claim a cover-up by Russian ‘propaganda’
Russians were assured that Putin trained for a full hour and was ‘in very good physical shape’
Onlookers insisted that Russian President Vladimir Putin (pictured) was not treated ‘softly’ by the judo coach
‘She kept going on and on and finally managed to throw Vladimir Putin over her head. He wasn’t upset but indeed appreciated her persistence. He got up and kissed Natalya on the top of her head.’
An onlooker said: ‘This is not the first sparring fight that the President has with her, and he really values her.’
Russians were assured that Putin trained for a full hour and was ‘in very good physical shape’.
Nor was he treated ‘softly’ by the judo coach.
‘Judo champions treated Vladimir Putin with care – but he didn’t play with the same attitude and threw them quite roughly on the tatami,’ reported MK.
Russia’s President Vladimir Putin (left, centre) during a judo training session at the Yug-Sport Training Center in Sochi
Putin said after the session: ‘It’s a well known medical fact – the level of adrenaline increases in a person who practices physical exercises, so your mood improves, and you take a different look on the world around you. I can probably say that it helps you to get real’
Pinned: In another action shot, Putin holds his sparring partner on the mat. The training session took place in Sochi last night
Kuzyutina, from Bryansk, competes in the women’s 52kg category. She took bronze at the 2016 Olympics
‘Olympic bronze champion Ivan Nifontov was four times with his back on the floor.’
Putin’s injury came during sparring with Olympic champion Beslan Mudranov, and a doctor rushed to bandage him before he continued.
Kuzyutina, from Bryansk, competes in the women’s 52kg category. She took bronze at the 2016 Olympics.
Ukrainian outlet Obozrevatel claimed: ‘Russian propaganda did not show the unpleasant moment for Putin.’
But in 2016 a video emerged of Putin thrown by Russian judoka Irina Zabludina, now 31.
Putin earlier held a summit with President Hassan Rouhani of Iran and Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Putin earlier held a summit with President Hassan Rouhani of Iran and Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
Stretch it out: Putin limbers up during his training session in the city of Sochi, Russia, last night