SOCHI, RUSSIA—Russian President Vladimir Putin paid surprise visits to the Team USA House and Canada House today in the Olympic village in Sochi.

Putin praised the U.S. team for being “balanced” with a strong presence in many sports. Lugers Chris Mazdzer and Preston Griffall and Lauren Boas Hayes, a former luger, posted photographs on the Twitter social media site, showing Putin with a glass of red wine sitting on a couch.

Drawn by nearby cheers after leaving, Putin stopped at Canada House for an unscheduled visit.

“Canadian athletes have millions of fans in Russia,” he said. “We’re happy to see our idols in Russia. We all, and I personally, wish you luck. Of course, maybe not at all of the hockey matches.”

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