Super Putin: Flamboyant portrayals of Russia's president
CBC News | Posted: January 12, 2016 12:48 AM | Last Updated: January 12, 2016
Vladimir Putin is a man of action, with pictures to prove it
Along with his reputation as an iron-fisted leader, Russian President Vladimir Putin is known to be an avid sportsman with a longtime love of judo, the Japanese martial art.
Images of the Russian leader engaging in feats of athletic prowess and daring appear frequently, shoring up his image as a man of action.
Putin has a black belt in judo.
Image | Russia Vladimir Putin does judo in Sochi on Jan 8 2016
Caption: Putin, who holds a black belt in judo, puts a national team member to the mat in Sochi on Jan. 8, 2016. (Alexey Nikolsky/Sputnik/Kremlin/Reuters)
He regularly plays hockey in a Sochi night league.
Image | Super Putin Russian President scores hockey game Oct 7 2015
Caption: In October, Putin celebrated his birthday with a hockey game during which the 63-year-old led his team (which included retired NHL players Pavel Bure and Alexander Mogilny) in scoring with seven goals. (Elexey Nikolsky/Ria Novosti/EPA)
He and and the prime minister pump iron between meetings.
Image | RUSSIA-Super PUTIN Dmitry Medvedev Aug 30 2015 work out
Caption: In August 2015, Putin and Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev take an exercise break at the Bocharov Ruchei state residence, in Sochi, pumping iron. (Yekaterina Shtukina/RIA Novosti/Reuters)
Putin's busy summer included an expedition in the Black Sea.
Image | UKRAINE-CRISIS/CRIMEA-PUTIN
Caption: Putin appears at the helm of a research bathyscaphe before it submerges near Sevastopol, Crimea, in August. (Alexei Nikolsky/RIA Novosti/Kremlin/Reuters)
Add archeological discoveries to his resumé.
Image | Treasure diver
Caption: Putin displays some ancient Greek artifacts purportedly discovered while diving in southern Russia in 2011. (Alexei Druzhinin/Getty)
He's cool with cats.
Image | Super Putin leopard
Caption: Russia's leader visited the Persian Leopard Breeding and Rehabilitation Centre in Sochi in February 2014, where he shared a moment with this Persian leopard cub. (Alexei Nikolsky/RIA Novosti/Kremlin/Reuters)
And has an eye for the birds.
Image | Saving cranes
Caption: Flying an ultralight aircraft, Putin led a flock of captive-bred endangered Siberian cranes on their migration route to Central Asia in 2012. (Alexsey Druginyn/RIA Novosti/Kremlin/Reuters)
He could tell a few fish stories.
Image | Angler Putin
Caption: On a trip to Siberia in 2013, Putin posed with a pike reportedly weighing 21 kilograms that he was said to have landed. (Alexei Nikolsky/RIA Novosti/Kremlin/Reuters)
Siberian summers get hot.
Image | RUSSIA Vladimir Putin goes fishing shirtless in Siberia July 2013
Caption: A bare-chested Putin casts his line in the Tuva region of Siberia. (Alexei Nikolsky/RIA Novosti/Kremlin/Reuters)
Image | Putin goes hunting shirtless in Siberia in 2007
Caption: Putin has visited Siberia's Tuva area numerous times, including on this hunting trip in 2007. (RIA Novosti/Reuters)
Image | Siberian traveller
Caption: Putin takes to horseback in the southern Siberian town of Kyzyl, where he is known to spend his summer vacations. (Alexei Druzhinin/Getty)
It's no surprise the ex-KGB agent is a good shot.
Image | Ak-47
Caption: Putin aims at a target with a replica AK-47 rifle in a shooting gallery in Moscow in 2012. (Alexei Druzhinin/Government Press Service/Associated Press)
Image | Super Valdimir Putin RUSSIA shooting range Nov 2006
Caption: Putin tries out a new shooting range at the GRU military intelligence headquarters, in Moscow in 2006. (Presidential Press Service/Reuters)
Image | Taking aim
Caption: Putin fires a crossbow-like tool at a whale in 2010. It was part of a scientific mission to take skin samples for analysis. (Alexei Druzhinin/Getty)
Time to suit up for a Formula One drive.
Image | Test drive
Caption: Putin prepares to test drive a car belonging to the Renault Formula One team in St. Petersburg in 2010. (Alexei Druzhinin/Getty)
A firm hand on the stick guides a water bomber.
Image | Water bomber
Caption: Putin takes to the air in a waterbombing plane to join the firefighting effort against wildfires in the Rayzan region in 2010. (Alexei Nikolsky/Getty)
On the road with bikers.
Image | Motorbike meeting
Caption: Before Russia's annexation of Crimea, Putin took part in a solidarity motorcycle ride with Russian and Ukrainian club members in 2010. Putin's ride is a three-wheeler, however. (Sergei Karpukhin/Getty)
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