Putin and the 2012 Olympic team

Here's a trip down memory lane!  I already posted about Putin meeting with the 2013 team after the Universiade this year, but here is the 2012 Olympic team meeting with Putin!

Ul, Putin, Ksyu

(I think it's hysterical how Ksyu just towers over Putin--she's such a giant!!)

Nazar, Putin, Blizia

Karolina & Putin

Putin & Makar

Putin & Blizia

If I were Alina Kabaeva, I might be a teensy bit jealous...Putin does look oh-so-pleased to be hanging out with the girls, doesn't he??

Putin & Dasha D

Especially with Zhenya (but who wouldn't be?!)!

Putin & Zhenya

Putin & Zhenya

Happy anniversary to the 2012 group!!

Yesterday was for the individual RG girls, and today (August 12, 2013) is the anniversary of my beloved 2012 group girls taking gold!!

Blizia, Ul, Makar, Ksyu, Karolina, Nazar

Today they commemorated that event (well, all of them except Karolina) by visiting Madame Viner!!

Ksyu, Nazar, Blizia, Irina Viner, Ul, makar

Ksyu, Nazar, Ul, Blizia (I assume Makar was late AS USUAL)

I've already posted a bunch of photos from the competition here, so to celebrate, here are some of my favorite "off the carpet" moments!
Hanging with Dasha & Zhenya!

Ksyu, Karolina, Zhenya, Dasha D, Nazar (front), Alina, Ul, Blizia

Makar, Zhenya, Ul

Showing off their BOSCO wear!

Dasha, Karolina, Nazar, Ksyu

Dasha D, Ksyu, Karolina, Nazar, Makar

Ul

Taking in the London sights & people!

Karolina

"How many RG girls does it take to dial a phone?" (Blizia, Makar, Ul)

Nazar (because a flag makes an excellent skirt!)

And my favorite photos of all--the girls at McDonald's!
Dasha & Ksyu are so hysterical here, and Makar is totally like, "is my eye makeup okay??"

Nazar wiping fry grease off her hands, looking both terribly sheepish and  very satisfied! (With Ksyu & Makar in back)

Happy anniversary to me and RG!!

Today is August 11, 2013, which means it has been exactly one year since Evgenia Kanaeva made history by becoming the first two-time Olympic champion in rhythmic gymnastics, and made me totally obsessed with the Russian RG team!!

Zhenya & Dasha

To commemorate that momentous event, here are some of my favorite photos of Zhenya and Dasha from that fateful day!  Really, can you imagine a more pulchritudinous pair of gold & silver medalists??!

Zhenya congratulating Dasha--hahahaha!

Dasha giving Zhenya a huge hug while Dasha's coach Olga Buyanova & Zhenya coach Vera Shtelbaums (holding the water bottle) look on--SO CUTE!!!

Zhenya with a protective arm around Dasha, just like a big sis should be!

?, Zhenya, Dima, Dasha

 Getting interviewed for a radio show...

Dancing at the BOSCO club..

Dinara Gimatova, Zhenya, Dasha, ?

Dasha doing a crazy walkover/balance

 Awwwww, these photos are SO CUTE!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Such memories!!!!   Just can't help but \(^o^)/