Have A Go Olympic Challenge 2024

HAVE A GO AT OLYMPIC SPORTS

FIND YOUR SPORT
Background image

Plushenko wins on return

 

Plushenko wins on return

Author image
AOC
Plushenko wins on return

Russian Olympic champion Yevgeny Plushenko got his campaign to retain his figure skating title at the Vancouver Games off to a successful start by winning the Rostelecom Cup

Russian Olympic champion Yevgeny Plushenko got his campaign to retain his figure skating title at the Vancouver Games off to a successful start by winning the Rostelecom Cup, the Russian leg of the ISU Grand Prix series here on Saturday.

The 26-year-old Russian, who has not competed internationally since his success at the 2006 Turin Games, has been lured out of retirement in the hope of claiming a second gold in Vancouver next February.

The Turin Games winner looked in complete command claiming: "I'm back!" in the kiss and cry corner while he was waiting for his mark after free skating.

The solid presentation of his free program confirmed his leading position, which he clinched after the free program, as he received 157.95 for "Tango Amore" by Edvin Marton for a total score of 240.20.

Second-placed Takahiko Kozuka of Japan failed to avoid minor errors in his free skating "Guitar Concerto" by Michael Kamen and finished 25 points behind the winner Plushenko.

Meanwhile, another Russian skater Artem Borodulin, who was fourth after short program jumped into the third spot with his new personal best mark of 129.48pts for his free skating of a Tango Medley for a total of 201.55, also new personal best result.

Plushenko grabbed the lead on Friday with his short program "Concierto de Aranjuez" but despite giving an error-free presentation failed to beat his previous personal best mark as he received 82.25 points.

However, his score - the season's second best in the world - gave him the lead with a 6.75-point advantage on second-placed Takahiko Kozuka of Japan, whose sparkling presentation of Jimmy Hendrix's Bold As Love proved popular with the home crowd.

Johnny Weir of the United States finished third after short program with 72.57pts.

AFP