Russia's female athletes in soft porn shoot ahead of Sochi Olympics

RUSSIA is courting controversy by featuring its female Winter Olympians in racy underwear photos, including Tatiana Borodulina, who lives in Australia.

RUSSIA is courting controversy by featuring its female Winter Olympians in a racy underwear shoot just days out from the Sochi Games.

Twelve athletes from sports including ice hockey, curling, figure skating and skiing feature in the shoot.

The Russian website that first published the pictures boasted that its athletes were more feminine, with a loose translation that "Russian women's team refutes the stereotype that women in sport ... is a mountain of muscle and manly figure".

The site calls the shoot "the best campaign for our team in Sochi".

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TATIANA BORODULINA - SHORT TRACK SKATING

Tatiana Borodulina was competing as an Australian only last year, but will suit up for Russia in Sochi. Picture: ADME

Tatiana Borodulina competes for Russia ahead of the Sochi Games.

ELENA NIKITINA - SKELETON

Elena Nikitina. Picture: ADME

Elena Nikitina competes in a 2013 World Cup skeleton race.

ALEXANDRA SAITOVA - CURLING

Alexandra Saitova. Picture: ADME

ANNA SIDOROVA - CURLING

Anna Sidorova. Picture: ADME

Russia's curling captain Anna Sidorova.

MARIA KOMISSAROVA - FREESTYLE SKIING

Maria Komissarova. Picture: ADME

E KATERINA BOBROVA - FIGURE SKATING

Ekaterina Bobrova. Picture: ADME

Ekaterina Bobrova competes with partner Dimitri Soloviev.

SVETLANA KOLMYKOVA - ICE HOCKEY

Svetlana Kolmykova. Picture: ADME

OLGA ZYABLIKOVA - CURLING

Olga Zyablikova. Picture: ADME

EKATERINA STOLYAROVA - FREESTYLE SKIING

Ekaterina Stolyarova. Picture: ADME

Ekaterina Stolyarova competes at the Vancouver Olympics in 2010.

IRINA AVVAKUMOVA - SKI JUMPING

Irina Avvakumova. Picture: ADME

Russia's Irina Avvakumova soars during a World Cup event.

EKATERINA GALKINA - CURLING

Ekaterina Gulkina. Picture: ADME

Ekaterina Galkina throws a stone during a curling match against Japan at the 2010 Winter Olympics.

ANNA PRUGOVA - ICE HOCKEY

Anna Prugova. Picture: ADME

Anna Prugova in action for Russia's ice hockey team.