Think you have the cojones to ask Vladimir Putin for a selfie? These Winter Olympians didn't either.
So, when the Russian president made a surprise visit to Team USA headquarters on Friday evening, they did what any experienced creeper does: They set up shots "with" their celebrity of choice without said celebrity's consent or knowledge. Chalk up another win for the front-facing phone camera. The result is a handful of seriously awesome -- and hilarious -- seflies with Putin (dot Tumblr dot com; someone get on that ASAP).
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Here's a gem from luger Preston Grifall:
Just hanging out at the USA house in #Sochi with Putin! No big deal! #sochiselfie @NBCOlympics pic.twitter.com/mXAegXtlza— Preston Griffall (@prestongriffall) February 14, 2014
A gold medal winner from fellow luger Chris Mazdzer:
Sochi selfie with Putin #sochiselfie @NBCOlympics pic.twitter.com/hanViOW4D1— Chris Mazdzer (@mazdzer) February 14, 2014
And this one from former luge athlete Lauren Boas Hayes is also spectacular:
Selfie with Putin at USA House!! #SochiSelfie #Putin #USA #ValentinesDay #DinnerDate #Sochi2014 pic.twitter.com/DTTrC8lmOJ— Life at Deloitte (@lifeatdeloitte) February 14, 2014
USA Today reports that Putin arrived at USA House "at 6:40 p.m. in a black limo with Russian flags," which "stunned" American athletes and visitors there. Then, "there was a toast, a clinking of glasses and then Putin sat down to chat over coffee," with United States Olympic Committee (USOC) Chairman Larry Probst, USOC CEO Scott Blackmun and Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Kozak.
"Security at the house was tight, and guests were kept away from the area where the reception was held, asked to sit elsewhere without being told why," according to USA Today.
Putin also had some wine, just for the record:
President Putin visits USA House. "The wine is good." pic.twitter.com/zZyaquflWO— Nancy Armour (@nrarmour) February 14, 2014
He visited Canada House on Friday evening, too, setting up this Canadian fan for an epic shot:
Putin posing with Canadian fans at COH! Unreal! What could possibly happen next! #Sochi2014 #curling @TeamJJonesCurl pic.twitter.com/EGMsZED8Dr— Trevor Wall (@twall_88) February 14, 2014
Remember the #SelfieOlympics? Shut 'em down, folks. Just shut 'em down. That one's tough to beat.