This Is Reportedly Putin's Dancing Daughter

Katerina Tikhonova competes in 'acrobatic rock and roll,' says Reuters
By John Johnson,  Newser Staff
Posted Nov 28, 2017 1:44 PM CST

Reuters thinks it nailed down proof—at least temporarily—that Vladimir Putin's youngest daughter is a competitive dancer. Putin famously keeps his family out of the spotlight, but the news agency says someone in the know identified 31-year-old Katerina Tikhonova as his daughter and as a "major player" in a niche sport: acrobatic rock and roll. Over the weekend, an official with the World Rock'n'Roll Confederation confirmed the connection. "Yes, I know her," said Manfred Mohab. "Of course." Asked a second time, he confirmed that she was Putin's daughter. However, after Reuters published the story on Tuesday, Mohab quickly backtracked.

"I can't confirm that I know the daughter of Mr. Putin," he said. "I have nothing to do with them." He blamed a loud venue and his own poor hearing for the purported misunderstanding during the interview. For Reuters, who says the name Tikhonova comes from the woman's grandmother, it's deja vu: Two years ago, it quoted a banking official confirming the rumor of Tikhonova's famous family, only to have the official backtrack when the story ran. Putin has another daughter, Maria; both were born to Lyudmila Shkrebneva, whom he divorced in 2013, per US News and World Report. So what is "acrobatic rock and roll"? The Week points to this video, reportedly featuring Tikhonova herself. (More Vladimir Putin stories.)

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