Russian President Vladimir Putin reveals he loves and is loved in return

Russian President Vladimir Putin has recently admitted that he is in love, sparking rumours over a relationship with former Olympic gymnast Alina Kabayeva.

The 62-year-old President said that he had told a friend from Europe, a big boss, about his divorce from wife Lyudmila after 30 years of marriage, the Daily Express reported.

Putin stated that when his friend asked him if there was a love in his life he said "yes," adding that someone does love him too.

Putin, who was first linked to the 31-year-old Kabayeva six years ago by a Moscow newspaper which predicted he would divorce his wife and marry the athlete within months, did not announce the split until 2013.

Kabayeva, who began competing in international gymnastics aged 12 and won a bronze medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and a gold at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, triggered speculation by announcing she had met a man "whom I love very much" after Putin announced his divorce.