Vintage Plushenko lands 7th European title
Source: Agencies |
January 30, 2012, Monday
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Print Edition
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DEFYING his aching left knee and advancing age, Evgeni Plushenko produced a career-best performance to win a seventh men's European figure skating title in Sheffield, England, on Saturday, adding another layer to his legend.
Throwing in an unexpected quadruple jump to a compelling routine to "Tango de Roxanne" from the Moulin Rouge soundtrack, the 2006 Olympic champion scored a personal-best 176.52 points in the free skate to total 261.23 - his highest-ever overall mark.
"I'm called the king by many people and I try to live up to that name. I want to remain the king for a long time to come," the 29-year-old Plushenko said with a grin.
If Plushenko is the king, then Carolina Kostner is surely the queen of European skating. On a day to remember for a relative veteran of the women's competition, the 24-year-old Italian captured a fourth continental title in a six-year span by executing a flawless, free skate to build on her lead from Friday's short program.
Topping both segments, the elegant Kostner finished with 183.55 points, more than 16 clear of second-place Kiira Korpi of Finland.
With 18-year-old Artur Gachinski finishing second in the men's competition, Russia left the Europeans with seven medals out of a possible 12 - two years before the country hosts the 2014 Olympics in Sochi.
The spectators at Motorpoint Arena were already on their feet when Plushenko, dressed in a glitter-lined black outfit, finished his breathtaking routine in a blaze of glory, repeatedly pumping his fists in the direction of the judges.
Even with Gachinski, who led Plushenko by 0.09 points after the short dance, and three other rivals to come, the greatest male skater of his generation knew the gold was again his - 12 years after winning his first continental title. "I did a little bit of history in figure skating today," an overjoyed Plushenko said.
Plushenko is going to Germany in two weeks for surgery on his left knee, a procedure that will keep him out of the world championships. He said he didn't do a quad during his short program on Thursday because it would have taken three or four minutes for his body to recover.
Lo and behold, Plushenko opened the free skate with a quad toe loop, which earned the maestro 11.59 points, that set the tone for the rest of his joyous, near-flawless routine that had the crowd transfixed.
Consistency was the key to Kostner's victory. After seeing Korpi, her closest challenger after the short program, botch her opening two jumps, wobbling at the end of a triple to-triple toe and placing her hand on the ice after a triple salchow, Kostner knew a safe routine would ease her to gold.
Nailing her jumps, she scored 120.33 points, comfortably the best of the night. "I think I have done better programs this year but I'm happy how I dealt with the pressure I put on myself," Kostner said.
Throwing in an unexpected quadruple jump to a compelling routine to "Tango de Roxanne" from the Moulin Rouge soundtrack, the 2006 Olympic champion scored a personal-best 176.52 points in the free skate to total 261.23 - his highest-ever overall mark.
"I'm called the king by many people and I try to live up to that name. I want to remain the king for a long time to come," the 29-year-old Plushenko said with a grin.
If Plushenko is the king, then Carolina Kostner is surely the queen of European skating. On a day to remember for a relative veteran of the women's competition, the 24-year-old Italian captured a fourth continental title in a six-year span by executing a flawless, free skate to build on her lead from Friday's short program.
Topping both segments, the elegant Kostner finished with 183.55 points, more than 16 clear of second-place Kiira Korpi of Finland.
With 18-year-old Artur Gachinski finishing second in the men's competition, Russia left the Europeans with seven medals out of a possible 12 - two years before the country hosts the 2014 Olympics in Sochi.
The spectators at Motorpoint Arena were already on their feet when Plushenko, dressed in a glitter-lined black outfit, finished his breathtaking routine in a blaze of glory, repeatedly pumping his fists in the direction of the judges.
Even with Gachinski, who led Plushenko by 0.09 points after the short dance, and three other rivals to come, the greatest male skater of his generation knew the gold was again his - 12 years after winning his first continental title. "I did a little bit of history in figure skating today," an overjoyed Plushenko said.
Plushenko is going to Germany in two weeks for surgery on his left knee, a procedure that will keep him out of the world championships. He said he didn't do a quad during his short program on Thursday because it would have taken three or four minutes for his body to recover.
Lo and behold, Plushenko opened the free skate with a quad toe loop, which earned the maestro 11.59 points, that set the tone for the rest of his joyous, near-flawless routine that had the crowd transfixed.
Consistency was the key to Kostner's victory. After seeing Korpi, her closest challenger after the short program, botch her opening two jumps, wobbling at the end of a triple to-triple toe and placing her hand on the ice after a triple salchow, Kostner knew a safe routine would ease her to gold.
Nailing her jumps, she scored 120.33 points, comfortably the best of the night. "I think I have done better programs this year but I'm happy how I dealt with the pressure I put on myself," Kostner said.
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