Plushenko skates, stans weep.
SUMMONING ALL THE PLUSHENCHRIST'S FAITHFUL SUBJECTS, FOR HE HAS RISEN AGAIN
examiner.com
Plushenko returns to competition, at the top after the short at Russians
In his first competition since taking the silver at the 2010 Olympics, Evgeni Plushenko took a successful first step toward the Sochi Olympics with a win in the short program at the Russian Figure Skating Championships. The men’s short program concluded the first day of competition at the championships, with the dance and pairs events taking place earlier in the day.
While not perfect, Plushenko showed plenty of signs that he was well on his way to regaining the technical prowess that he was known for when he was the most dominant male skater in the world for a number of years. He had a rough landing on his opening quad toe and later did a double toe instead of a triple on the end of his triple lutz combination. But his solo triple axel was solid, and his performance earned him an 88.24 and a lead of over four points over the rest of the field.
Hot on Plushenko’s heels is World bronze medalist Artur Gachinski, who opened with a quad toe-double toe combination. The rest of his program was also clean, though the landing of his solo triple axel was rough, costing him execution points. Still, his 83.52 puts him in striking distance of Plushenko.
Reigning bronze medalist Zhan Bush is in position for the podium again with a third-place showing in the short program. He hit a quad toe-triple toe to start his short but turned out of his triple axel, putting him behind Gachinski by just under two points. Defending champion Konstantin Menshov is currently in sixth place after turning his quad toe into a triple toe and doubling his solo triple lutz.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE INTERVIEW TAKEN SHORTLY AFTER THE SKATE (sorry, Christmas, family etc., so no proper translation, just a google one)
"I had a hard time - admitted Plushenko told reporters. - Mostly psychologically. Have not competed in a long time, plus the injury's impact. Leg does not work 100 percent. I'm being careful about it. But I'm glad that was able to quickly prepare for the Championship of Russia. All still I had the surgery, then injected into the knees - and still rapidly prepared. And I suppose, and with an error, but performed a quadruple jump. For me it is very important, I needed to overcome the fear of a painful left foot push. "
"Most recently, in training I tried the quad, and there was a small ligamentstear - added skater. - So I'm pleased that I rotated four times. Satisfied that I finished. There are many nuances, many mistakes, there's still a lot of work on the program left to be done. But in general, for today I give myself 4+ "
Plushenko thanked fans greeted him with a standing ovation performance. "I'm concerned about public support, - said the athlete. - I know that guys and girls come from Moscow, from Petersburg, all of my fan club going. Even in Japan, people have arrived. Thanks to all of them great."
According to the Olympic champion, he had no doubt start if the championship of Russia.
"Long ago I decided to compete here no matter what, - said Plushenko. - The only thing was whether to do a quadruple jump, or replace it with a lighter combination triple lutz-triple toe loop. But just three or four days ago, I began to sometimes land the quad. Today at the warm-up before the skate, I did a clean one, and for me it was quite a surprise. Even I was flummoxed a bit, going for a second consecutive quad, but already in the competition, I twitched one. "
Skater said that for him, no matter the result, he will at the national championship. "I do not care what I take place here. The main thing - to return to the game, so the body remembered how to do that - said Plushenko.
The Olympic champion said that he could perform a more complex version of the short program.
"Actually, I had planned to stage 4-3, - said Plushenko. - But as I made an error on the quad, I did not do a triple, could not risk it. So I added a double jump after lutz. I decided that this is enough for me for today. For that very far from the ideal form, in which I am, I'm happy with my performance. The next competition will be better. "
The athlete is not in doubt, he will be there on Monday for the free program. "Why I came here then?"- Said Plushenko.
- By the way, I do not even remember how I scored?
- 88 points.
- And this is good - 88?
- First place.
- Wait a minute! That's me in the first place?
[source1] [source2]
Click to viewexaminer.com
Plushenko returns to competition, at the top after the short at Russians
In his first competition since taking the silver at the 2010 Olympics, Evgeni Plushenko took a successful first step toward the Sochi Olympics with a win in the short program at the Russian Figure Skating Championships. The men’s short program concluded the first day of competition at the championships, with the dance and pairs events taking place earlier in the day.
While not perfect, Plushenko showed plenty of signs that he was well on his way to regaining the technical prowess that he was known for when he was the most dominant male skater in the world for a number of years. He had a rough landing on his opening quad toe and later did a double toe instead of a triple on the end of his triple lutz combination. But his solo triple axel was solid, and his performance earned him an 88.24 and a lead of over four points over the rest of the field.
Hot on Plushenko’s heels is World bronze medalist Artur Gachinski, who opened with a quad toe-double toe combination. The rest of his program was also clean, though the landing of his solo triple axel was rough, costing him execution points. Still, his 83.52 puts him in striking distance of Plushenko.
Reigning bronze medalist Zhan Bush is in position for the podium again with a third-place showing in the short program. He hit a quad toe-triple toe to start his short but turned out of his triple axel, putting him behind Gachinski by just under two points. Defending champion Konstantin Menshov is currently in sixth place after turning his quad toe into a triple toe and doubling his solo triple lutz.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE INTERVIEW TAKEN SHORTLY AFTER THE SKATE (sorry, Christmas, family etc., so no proper translation, just a google one)
"I had a hard time - admitted Plushenko told reporters. - Mostly psychologically. Have not competed in a long time, plus the injury's impact. Leg does not work 100 percent. I'm being careful about it. But I'm glad that was able to quickly prepare for the Championship of Russia. All still I had the surgery, then injected into the knees - and still rapidly prepared. And I suppose, and with an error, but performed a quadruple jump. For me it is very important, I needed to overcome the fear of a painful left foot push. "
"Most recently, in training I tried the quad, and there was a small ligamentstear - added skater. - So I'm pleased that I rotated four times. Satisfied that I finished. There are many nuances, many mistakes, there's still a lot of work on the program left to be done. But in general, for today I give myself 4+ "
Plushenko thanked fans greeted him with a standing ovation performance. "I'm concerned about public support, - said the athlete. - I know that guys and girls come from Moscow, from Petersburg, all of my fan club going. Even in Japan, people have arrived. Thanks to all of them great."
According to the Olympic champion, he had no doubt start if the championship of Russia.
"Long ago I decided to compete here no matter what, - said Plushenko. - The only thing was whether to do a quadruple jump, or replace it with a lighter combination triple lutz-triple toe loop. But just three or four days ago, I began to sometimes land the quad. Today at the warm-up before the skate, I did a clean one, and for me it was quite a surprise. Even I was flummoxed a bit, going for a second consecutive quad, but already in the competition, I twitched one. "
Skater said that for him, no matter the result, he will at the national championship. "I do not care what I take place here. The main thing - to return to the game, so the body remembered how to do that - said Plushenko.
The Olympic champion said that he could perform a more complex version of the short program.
"Actually, I had planned to stage 4-3, - said Plushenko. - But as I made an error on the quad, I did not do a triple, could not risk it. So I added a double jump after lutz. I decided that this is enough for me for today. For that very far from the ideal form, in which I am, I'm happy with my performance. The next competition will be better. "
The athlete is not in doubt, he will be there on Monday for the free program. "Why I came here then?"- Said Plushenko.
- By the way, I do not even remember how I scored?
- 88 points.
- And this is good - 88?
- First place.
- Wait a minute! That's me in the first place?
[source1] [source2]