Vladimir Putin flips his classmate Vassily Shestakov during a judo class, 1971.

Vladimir Putin liked to play table-tennis when he served in Germany, 1987.

Vladimir Putin displays his judo skills at a youth contest, 1999.

Vladimir Putin really likes to ski too, 1999.

Vladimir Putin laughs with Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov as they watch Spartak Moscow play Alania Vladikavkaz, March 2000.

Vladimir Putin holds the trophy for a friendly match between the Judo teams of Chelyabinsk and St Petersburg, April 2000.

Vladimir Putin smiles as he shakes hands with the IOC's president Juan Antonio Samaranch during their meeting in Moscow, May 2000.

Vladimir Putin is thrown by a student during a visit to a Judo school in Okinawa, July 2000.

Vladimir Putin speaks with famous ice hockey player Viacheslav Fetisov during their meeting at the Kremlin, August 2000.

Vladimir Putin listens to synchronized swimming world champion Olga Brusnikina during his meeting with the Russian National Olympic team, August 2000.

Vladimir Putin throws a Japanese judo expert during a judo demonstration at the Kodokan in Tokyo, September 2000.

Vladimir Putin kisses the hand of a Russian Olympic gold medalist, October 2000.

Vladimir Putin presents flowers to prima ballerina Maya Plisetskaya at Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow, November 2000.

Vladimir Putin gestures as he sits with his former judo coach Anatoly Rakhlin during the President Cup judo tournament in Magnitogorsk, December 2000.

Vladimir Putin waves as he takes a chair lift accompanied by Austrian ski legend Karl Schranz in a ski resort in Austria, February 2001.

Vladimir Putin peaks with ice hockey players Pavel Bure and Jaromir Jagr of Czech Republic in Moscow, August 2001.