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Evgeni Plushenko

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Evgeni Plushenko is a highly decorated Russian former figure skater.

Rus-nat.plushenko-mishin
Rus-nat.plushenko-mishin

He is recognized for his immense technical skill and longevity in the sport. Plushenko won four Olympic medals during his professional career. He earned gold medals in 2006 and 2014. He also earned silver medals in 2002 and 2010. His collection of titles is vast and includes three World championships. He also won seven European championships and ten Russian national titles. He once tied a record for most Olympic medals in figure skating. This record was later surpassed by Scott Moir and Tessa Virtue.

Plushenko's journey into skating began for health reasons. His mother enrolled him in lessons at age four. She wanted him to get more exercise because he frequently suffered from colds. He began training in Volgograd with his first coach, Tatiana Skala. When his local rink closed at age 11, he moved to Saint Petersburg. In 1994, he began training under the guidance of Alexei Mishin.

2012 European FSC - Men
2012 European FSC - Men

Plushenko made very rapid progress on the international stage. At age 14, he became the youngest World Junior Champion and World medalist. By age 15, he had already won a bronze medal at the World Championships.

Throughout his career, Plushenko engaged in intense competition and rivalries. He developed a famous rivalry with another skater named Alexei Yagudin. The two skaters trained together under Mishin until 1998. Plushenko's career was also marked by significant physical challenges. In 2005, a groin injury forced him to undergo surgery in Munich, Germany. He also battled various knee injuries throughout his years on the ice. These injuries sometimes forced him to take breaks from competitive skating. He used these periods to rest and recover his strength.

Plushenko was a strong advocate for technical difficulty in men's skating. He believed that quadruple jumps, or "quads," were the future of the sport. He famously stated that without a quad, it is not men's figure skating. This belief was central to his performance at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. He landed a quadruple toe loop-triple toe loop combination during his free skating. Although he won a silver medal there, he was disappointed with the judging. He felt the scoring system needed refinement to better reward technical elements.

2012 EC Podium Evgeni Plushenko
2012 EC Podium Evgeni Plushenko

His time in Vancouver led to some unexpected honors and controversies. He finished only 1.31 points behind the gold medalist, Evan Lysacek. Following the ceremony, Plushenko stepped on the top podium level. This action was viewed by some as unsportsmanlike behavior. However, he received significant support from the Russian government. Prime Minister Vladimir Putin sent him a telegram of congratulations. Additionally, Siberian jewelers awarded him a special medal weighing over 0.5 kilograms of pure gold.

2012 EC Podium Evgeni Plushenko
2012 EC Podium Evgeni Plushenko

In 2010, Plushenko faced a difficult period regarding his professional eligibility. The International Skating Union (ISU) announced he had lost his eligibility to compete. This decision happened because he participated in skating shows without official authorization. He did not appeal the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. However, he remained determined to return to the ice. He spent time practicing difficult jumps like the quad Salchow and quad loop. In 2011, the ISU Council voted unanimously to reinstate him.

Evgeni Plushenko and Julia Lipnitskaia Olympics 2014
Evgeni Plushenko and Julia Lipnitskaia Olympics 2014

Plushenko's return to competition showed his dedication to the sport's evolution. He returned to training with Alexei Mishin to prepare for the 2014 Olympics. He even used younger skaters as "sparring partners" to push his own limits. He noted that having a partner perform quads forced him to perform quads as well. This competitive environment helped him prepare for the 2014 team event. In that event, he helped Russia win an Olympic gold medal. His career illustrates the intense discipline required to remain at the top of figure skating.

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File:Rus-nat.plushenko-mishin.jpg
Rus-nat.plushenko-mishin.jpg
File:Russia in the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest.jpg
Russia in the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest.jpg
File:2012 EC Podium Evgeni Plushenko.JPG
2012 EC Podium Evgeni Plushenko.JPG
File:Evgeni Plushenko and Julia Lipnitskaia Olympics 2014.jpeg
Evgeni Plushenko and Julia Lipnitskaia...
File:2012 European FSC - Men.jpg
2012 European FSC - Men.jpg
File:Evgeni Plushenko at 2010 European Championships (2).jpg
Evgeni Plushenko at 2010 European...
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