http://rbth.ru/arts/sport/2013/01/31/ru ... 22363.htmlRussia’s figure skating team comes up on top at 2013 championshipsThe 2013 European Figure Skating Championships in Zagreb, Croatia were a success for the Russian team, which had to deal with drama on and off the ice.
The European Figure Skating Championships in Zagreb were a truly unforgettable experience for both the athletes and the fans — flawless skating from Europe’s strongest performers, fierce battles and breathtakingly close results.
The championships produced a number of sensations, but, as expected, team Russia won the overall standings with two gold medals, two silvers and one bronze. In addition to being crowned the best team in Europe, the Russian skaters also deserve a separate award for their resilience and fighting spirit.
Plushenko falls, but gets up againOlympic champion, two-time Olympic silver medalist, three-time world champion and seven-time European champion Evgeny Plushenko called his fall on a triple-axel attempt (an elementary jump for a skater of his caliber) in the short program an “inexcusable mistake.”
His coach, Alexei Mishin, was quite lighthearted about it to begin with: “Well, you know, even Yelena Isinbayeva sometimes fails to clear the opening height.” He sounded quite bitter in another comment, though: “It’s hard to compete with opponents and pain.” It was announced that the prominent skater would have to withdraw from the tournament, for only the second time in his career; the letters “WD” had only ever stood opposite the name Plushenko during the 2004-2005 World Championships.
Plushenko will have to undergo treatment now (most likely in Germany), but he is optimistic: “I’m trying to take it easy. I will take care of my back and resume practicing on 1 March,” the skater tweeted.
Will Plushenko recover for the next world championships, scheduled to take place in Canada on March 13-17? Alexei Mishin had no direct answer. “You saw him practice during the first few days, and he looked fine. He needs treatment for his back. In March, we’ll work on a new program,” Mishin said.
Plushenko has returned to professional sports one more time for his fourth Olympic Games — he still wants to win on the ice in Sochi.
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Pluschenko withdraws from figure skating Euros : http://rt.com/sport/pluschenko-withdraw ... modio-683/