A former KGB agent, it's probably fair to say that Russian president Vladimir Putin is a man that divides opinion ...
A former KGB agent, it's probably fair to say that Russian president Vladimir Putin is a man that divides opinion ...
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Human rights groups say civil liberties and democratic freedoms have suffered during Putin's rule. But French Olympic ski legend Jean-Claude Killy is a fan after getting to know Putin in the run-up to the Sochi Winter Olympics.
Human rights groups say civil liberties and democratic freedoms have suffered during Putin's rule. But French Olympic ski legend Jean-Claude Killy is a fan after getting to know Putin in the run-up to the Sochi Winter Olympics.
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Killy won three gold medals at the 1968 Winter Olympics but has not skied since 1988. The International Olympic Committee's (IOC) chief supervisor for Sochi would watch his friend Puti ski and then dish out tips over shots of vodka.
Killy won three gold medals at the 1968 Winter Olympics but has not skied since 1988. The International Olympic Committee's (IOC) chief supervisor for Sochi would watch his friend Puti ski and then dish out tips over shots of vodka.
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Putin's skiing prowess matches his man-of-action image -- he also joined the Russian ice hockey team ahead of the Games in Sochi.
Putin's skiing prowess matches his man-of-action image -- he also joined the Russian ice hockey team ahead of the Games in Sochi.
Putin has been snapped trying his hand at a host of sports -- often bare-chested. Fly fishing is just one of the Russian leader's pursuits.
Putin has been snapped trying his hand at a host of sports -- often bare-chested. Fly fishing is just one of the Russian leader's pursuits.
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That's when he's not horse riding while on holiday in southern Siberia .
That's when he's not horse riding while on holiday in southern Siberia .
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Or swimming, butterfly style ...
Or swimming, butterfly style ...
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Putin is a regular all-action hero - here he is pictured scuba diving.
Putin is a regular all-action hero - here he is pictured scuba diving.
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Here he is pictured piloting a motorized hang glider while flying with cranes that have taken to the machine as their leader.
Here he is pictured piloting a motorized hang glider while flying with cranes that have taken to the machine as their leader.
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Putin and Killy met dozens of times ahead of the Sochi Games.
Putin and Killy met dozens of times ahead of the Sochi Games.
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Triple Olympic skiing gold medalist Killy was the IOC's chief supervisor for Sochi in 2014 and would visit Russia to check on the progress of the Games' planning ahead of the start.
Triple Olympic skiing gold medalist Killy was the IOC's chief supervisor for Sochi in 2014 and would visit Russia to check on the progress of the Games' planning ahead of the start.
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The Sochi Games featured a coastal hub in the city and a mountain hub in the hills around Krasnaya Polyana.
The Sochi Games featured a coastal hub in the city and a mountain hub in the hills around Krasnaya Polyana.
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Austria's Matthias Mayer won the downhill gold medal at Sochi.
Austria's Matthias Mayer won the downhill gold medal at Sochi.
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Killy won downhill, giant slalom and slalom gold at the Grenoble Games in 1968.
Killy won downhill, giant slalom and slalom gold at the Grenoble Games in 1968.
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