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The recently competed World University Games were largely ignored by the mainstream media in the U.S. In case you hadn’t noticed, one major theme dominated the mini-Olympics for college-aged athletes.

Russia creamed everyone. The event host (based in Kazan) won 155 gold medals. China was second with 26, and the U.S. was seventh with 11. The previous record of gold medals by one country at a University Games was 75, by China in China in 2011.

That stat caught the eye of The New York Times, which ran a piece titled, “Russia stacked team with stars for World University Games.”

It noted Russia sent 18 Olympic gold medalists to event where other countries, such as the U.S., featured many B and C squads.

Well, Russian president Vladimir Putin has a response for the Times and everybody else who thought his nation brought in ringers for a goodwill competition.

“I’d like to advise them to take up sport themselves, and if they have any health issues to go see a doctor,” Putin told Russian media. “At the end of the day, maybe they should try some Viagra and then life would get better, would reveal some of its vivid and beautiful sides, and they would see the future.”

Have a problem with that? Think twice before confronting Putin. Putin, 60, has cultivated his reputation as a fit and adventurous sports fan. In addition to widely publicized feats of physical skill, like diving and horseback riding (shirtless), he holds a black belt in judo and reportedly swims every morning before work

Video: Crazy wrestler celebration dance at World University Games