2010 Euros Men's SP Highlights | Still jumping strongly, Plushenko makes a comeback

British coverage: (commentators: Nicky Slater, Chris Howarth)
The 2010 European Figure Skating Championships was held at the Saku Suurhall Arena in Tallinn, Estonia from 18 to 24 January 2010. Men's short program (SP) performances highlighted here marked with (^) below:
Rank Name Nation Total points SP^ FS
1 Evgeni Plushenko Евгений Плющенко Russia 255.39 1 91.30^ 1 164.09
2 Stéphane Lambiel Switzerland 238.54 5 77.75^ 2 160.79
3 Brian Joubert France 236.45 2 88.55^ 3 147.90
4 Michal Březina Czech Republic 224.74 4 79.60^ 5 145.14
6 Yannick Ponsero France 219.52 3 82.40^ 7 137.12
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[from the NY Times] Still Jumping Strongly, Plushenko Makes a Comeback
By C. Clarey
Jan. 20, 2010
TALLINN, Estonia

It certainly looked like the old Yevgeny Plushenko: from the hair (bowl cut on top, long in the back) to the ballet dancer’s flexibility to, above all, the jumps.

The jumps are what made Plushenko a dominant force in figure skating and a world and Winter Games champion. And in his first major international competition in nearly four years, he jumped and scored better than anyone in the short program at the European championships Wednesday.

His opening quadruple toe-triple toe combination ultimately made the difference with his longtime rival Brian Joubert of France, who had to settle for opening with a quad-double.

Plushenko’s final total of 91.30 points was a record for the men’s short program, improving on the mark of 90.66 he established on his way to victory at the 2006 Winter Games in Turin, Italy, his last major competition before retiring.

“I am so happy with my performance and feelings,” said Plushenko, a 27-year-old Russian. “Of course I’m not going to fly to the moon, because tomorrow is a big fight.”

Heading into Thursday’s free program, the second and final phase of the competition, Plushenko holds a slight lead over Joubert, who scored a personal best of 88.55 with his clean short program.

“It will be a good duel, as it has always been with Yevgeny,” said Joubert, the reigning European champion. “It’s good to see him back at this level.”

The toll of being a master of the quadruple has taken a toll on Plushenko’s knees, and pain was part of the reason for his break from the sport. “The problem still exists,” said his longtime coach, Aleksei Mishin.

But Plushenko pronounced himself healthy Wednesday, and he certainly skated that way, even if some French coaches argued that he had been overscored.

Stephane Lambiel, the two-time world champion from Switzerland, is also returning to the elite level after a two-season break caused by physical problems. Although he remains a true artist and a master of spins and footwork, he stumbled on his opening quadruple toe loop and could do no better than fifth in the short program, with a score of 77.75.

Joubert has had his own issues this season: slicing open his right foot with his skate while trying to perform a triple Lutz during practice Nov. 25. He had surgery and, along with Plushenko, missed the Grand Prix final that was won in impressive if quadruple-free fashion by Evan Lysacek of the United States, the reigning world champion.
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thanks to Kim!