Canadian athlete deletes selfie with Vladimir Putin after backlash from back home

Russian president Vladimir Putin stopped by the USA and Canada Houses in Sochi on Friday, drawing plenty of attention from smartphone-wielding athletes. One of them was Canadian speedskater Brittany Schussler, who took advantage of her proximity to Putin to snap a selfie.

Schussler later tweeted the picture to her followers with the message "I should've asked him to be my Valentine," but was soon met with strong criticism. Enough criticism that Schussler felt compelled to delete the tweet and explain herself to a Canadian newspaper.

Schussler's clarification did not do much for some people:

Schussler wasn't the only one drawing flak as plenty leveled heat at the USA and Canadian Houses for putting politics aside and welcoming Putin in the name of sport. ("Good luck, except in hockey," Putin reportedly said during his Canadian visit.)

She did, however, become one of the biggest targets for people who don't approve of hobnobbing with someone with Putin's human rights record.

What did you think of the tweet and picture?

Out of bounds or part of the Sochi experience?

More Winter Olympics coverage from Yahoo Sports:

- - - - - - -

Kevin Kaduk

is a writer for Yahoo Sports.. Have a tip? Email him at kevinkaduk@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!

Follow @KevinKaduk