Evgeni Viktorovich Plushenko (, born 3 November 1982) is a Russian former figure skater. He is a four-time Olympic medalist (2006 gold, 2014 team gold, 2002 & 2010 silver), a three-time World champion (2001, 2003, 2004), a seven-time European champion (2000, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2010, 2012), a four-time Grand Prix Final champion (1999–2000, 2000–01, 2002–03, 2004–05), and a ten-time Russian national champion (1999–2002, 2004–2006, 2010, 2012–2013). Plushenko's four Olympic medals once tied with Sweden's Gillis Grafström's record for most Olympic medals in figure skating, which has since been surpassed by Scott Moir and Tessa Virtue. He also won a record total of 22 titles on the Grand Prix circuit.
Early life and education
Plushenko was born on 3 November 1982 in , Solnechny District, Khabarovsk Krai, Soviet Union.
A 1998 graduate of school No. 91 in Petrogradsky District, he began studying at the in 2000, graduating in 2005, and at the Faculty of tourism and hospitality of the Saint Petersburg State University of Engineering and Economics in 2004. Plushenko's free skating music was specially arranged for him by violinist Edvin Marton.
2006–2008: Hiatus
right|thumb|[[Edvin Marton, Dima Bilan, and Plushenko at the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest]]
Plushenko took a break from competitive skating following the 2006 Olympic season. He has said the off-season helped him rest and recover from past knee injuries he has battled.
After seeing the poor results of Russian skaters at the 2007 World Championships (the worst since 1960), Plushenko was worried about Russia losing its status as a dominant force in figure skating, and was also concerned that Russia might even lose confidence for its skaters for the 2010 Winter Olympics. He announced in April 2007 that he decided to return to competitive skating for the 2007–08 season to keep Russia at a competitive level with other countries until the next generation of Russian skaters could take over but a return to the ice did not materialize. Plushenko also stated that he planned to compete in the 2010 Winter Olympics. He received 171.50 points in the free skating to win his eighth Russian Championship with 271.59 points.
At the 2010 European Championships, Plushenko set a new world record score in the short program by scoring 91.30 points, and went on to win the event for a sixth time with a total score of 255.39 points. He and Lysacek received a similar total score for program components, but Plushenko had a lower total technical elements score than Lysacek. He said of the gold medal winner, Evan Lysacek, "I think we need to change the judging system – a quad is a quad. If an Olympic champion doesn't do a quad, well I don't know..." Following the Olympic medal ceremony, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin sent Plushenko a telegram, congratulating him on the wonderful Olympic performance and saying his silver was worth gold. On March 24, 2010 Siberian jewelers decided to award Plushenko a special medal weighing more than half a kilo of pure gold.
Plushenko became the only living single skater to have won medals at three Olympics. 2012, Plushenko worked with Italian choreographer Pasquale Camerlengo on a new short program. In late June 2012, he also worked with Japanese choreographer Kenji Miyamoto on his free skating for the following season.
After struggling with a back injury during practice, Plushenko decided to withdraw from the men's singles competition following his pre-short program warm up on 13 February 2014. Plushenko's withdrawal was after the Sunday deadline to name a replacement which left Russia without an entry in men's singles.
It was announced shortly after that Plushenko would be retiring from competitive skating, On 2 March 2014, Plushenko announced that he was going to have another back surgery citing a snapped pin in his back, and ended any plans for a return to professional competition.
After Sochi Olympics
Plushenko expressed interest in coaching when he ended his skating career.
Former students include:
- Sofia Muravieva → Champion 2021 JGP Austria, finished 6th at 2022 Russian Nationals
- Alexandra Trusova → From May 2020 – May 2021.
- Alena Kostornaia → from July 2020 – March 2021.
- Ekaterina Ryabova → Finished 13th at 2019 Worlds and 6th at 2020 Europeans.
- Stanislava Konstantinova → from February 2020 to January 2021.
- Anastasia Tarakanova → 4th at 2018 JGP Final, 7th 2019 Russian Jr. Nationals
- Serafima Sakhanovich → Champion 2019 CS Tallinn Trophy
Records and achievements
{| class="wikitable" style="float:right"
|-
! colspan=2 | ISU abbreviations: <br /> Jumps
|-
! T || Toe loop
|-
! S || Salchow
|-
! Lo || Loop
|-
! F || Flip
|-
! Lz || Lutz
|-
! A || Axel
|}
Evgeni Plushenko has won four Olympic medals, which, at the time, tied with Gillis Grafström's record for most Olympic medals in figure skating. Plushenko is known for his dynamic performances, and technical advancement of the sport.
Plushenko is the first male skater to perform the Biellmann spin in the senior competitions. He first landed the combination at the 2002 Cup of Russia and has since landed it four times. He is the first skater to complete the 3A-3F combination.
Plushenko is also the first to perform a 3T–3T–3Lo–2Lo combination, which he first did at the 2001 ARD Gala. At the 2006 Russian Championships, he landed a six jump combination (3T–3T–2Lo–2Lo–2Lo–2Lo) in his exhibition program. He performed a 3A-3T-3Lo combination at the exhibition finale of the 2006 Winter Olympics.
Plushenko has consistently landed 4T in competitions and landed a 4S in Samara, Russia during the 2004 Russian Cup series. It is estimated that he has landed a total of about 100 quads in competition.
Plushenko has worked on and landed 4Lo and 4Lz in practice, but has never completed any of them in competition. He has also worked on a 3A-4T combination.
At the age of 16, Plushenko became the youngest male skater to ever receive a perfect score of 6.0. He received a total of seventy five 6.0's before the new Code of Points judging system was introduced. Under the Code of Points system, he has set 13 world record scores (5 in the short program, 4 in free skating, and 4 in the combined total).
List of Plushenko's world record scores
Plushenko has broken 13 world records in his career:
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! colspan=4 align=center | Combined total records
|-
! Date
! style="width:80px;"| Score
! Event
! Note
|-
| 16 February 2006
| style="text-align:center;" | 258.33
| 2006 Winter Olympics
| The record was broken by Daisuke Takahashi on 15 February 2008.
|-
| 18 December 2004
| style="text-align:center;" | 251.75
| 2004–05 Grand Prix Final
| Plushenko became the first skater to score above 250 points.
|-
| 15 November 2003
| style="text-align:center;" | 234.29
| 2003 Trophée Lalique
|
|-
| 1 November 2003
| style="text-align:center;" | 233.65
| 2003 Skate Canada International
| Plushenko became the first skater to score above 230 points.
|-
! colspan=4 align=center | Short program records
|-
! Date
! style="width:80px;"| Score
! Event
! Note
|-
| 20 January 2010
| style="text-align:center;" | 91.30
| 2010 European Championships
| The record was broken by Patrick Chan on 27 April 2011.
|-
| 14 February 2006
| style="text-align:center;" | 90.66
| 2006 Winter Olympics
| Plushenko became the first skater to score above 90 points in short program.
|-
| 25 November 2005
| style="text-align:center;" | 87.20
| 2005 Cup of Russia
|
|-
| 17 December 2004
| style="text-align:center;" | 84.35
| 2004–05 Grand Prix Final
|
|-
| 30 October 2003
| style="text-align:center;" | 81.25
| 2003 Skate Canada International
| Plushenko became the first skater to score above 80 points in short program.
|-
! colspan=4 align=center | Free skating records
|-
! Date
! style="width:80px;"| Score
! Event
! Note
|-
| 16 February 2006
| style="text-align:center;" | 167.67
| 2006 Winter Olympics
| The record was broken by Daisuke Takahashi on 15 February 2008.
|-
| 18 December 2004
| style="text-align:center;" | 167.40
| 2004–05 Grand Prix Final
| Plushenko became the first skater to score above 160 points in free skating.
|-
| 15 November 2003
| style="text-align:center;" | 158.94
| 2003 Trophée Lalique
|
|-
| 1 November 2003
| style="text-align:center;" | 152.40
| 2003 Skate Canada International
| Plushenko became the first skater to score above 150 points in free skating.
|}
Advancement of skating competition
Plushenko has taken a strong position opposing the current official ban on quad jumps in the women's short program stating: “When Usain Bolt runs faster than everyone else, should he run with weights? Why should ladies skating be held back? It is not fair to them. There should be equality”, referring to men not being restricted as to the use of quad jumps in competition. Plushenko has advocated the position that both men and women should be equally allowed to use the quad jump in skating competition without gender discrimination.
Political career
In 2006, Plushenko joined the political party A Just Russia, and in March 2007, he was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Saint Petersburg.
|-
| align=left | Russian Champ. || 6th || 4th || bgcolor=cc9966 | 3rd || bgcolor=gold | 1st || bgcolor=gold | 1st || bgcolor=gold | 1st || bgcolor=gold | 1st || || bgcolor=gold | 1st || bgcolor=gold | 1st || bgcolor=gold | 1st
|
|
| || bgcolor="gold" | 1st || || bgcolor=gold | 1st || bgcolor=gold | 1st || bgcolor=silver | 2nd
|-
! colspan="20" style="background:#ffdead" | Team events
|-
| align=left | Olympics || || || || || || || || || || ||
|
|
| || || || || || bgcolor=gold | 1st T
|-
| align=left | Japan Open || || || || || || || || || || ||
|
|
| || || bgcolor=cc9966 | 3rd T <br />3rd P || || bgcolor=cc9966 | 3rd T <br />4th P ||
|-
| colspan="20" style="text-align:center" | <small> J = Junior level; WD = Withdrew <br /> T = Team result; P = Personal result; Medals awarded for team result only. <br /> Plushenko did not compete in the 2006–2007, 2007–2008, and 2008–2009 seasons. </small>
|}
Detailed results
Small medals for short program and free skating awarded only at ISU Championships. At team events, medals awarded for team results only.
- – This is a team event, medals are awarded for the team results only.
- – team placement
- – dates of competition, not event
- – Total Factored Placements
- World records highlighted in bold and italic
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! style="background-color:#ffdead" colspan=7 | 2013–14 season
|-
! Date
! Event
! notes
!
!
! Total
!
|-
| 6–9 February 2014
| 2014 Winter Olympics
|
| align=center | 2<br />91.39
| align=center | 1<br />168.20
| align=center bgcolor=gold | 1
| <br />
|-
| 24–25 December 2013
| 2014 Russian Championships
|
| align=center | 1<br />98.41
| align=center | 2<br />162.96
| align=center bgcolor=silver | 2<br />261.37
|
|-
| 7–8 November 2013
| 22nd Volvo Open Cup
|
| align=center | 1<br />82.34
| align=center | 1<br />180.91
| align=center bgcolor=gold | 1<br />263.25
| <br />
|-
! style="background-color:#ffdead" colspan=7 | 2012–13 season
|-
! Date
! Event
! notes
!
!
! Total
!
|-
| 25–26 December 2012
| 2013 Russian Championships
|
| align=center | 1<br />91.68
| align=center | 1<br />174.26
| align=center bgcolor=gold | 1<br />265.94
| <br />
|-
| 6 October 2012
| 2012 Japan Open
|
| align=center | –
| align=center | 4<br />156.21
| align=center bgcolor=#c96 | 3
|
|-
! style="background-color:#ffdead" colspan=7 | 2011–12 season
|-
! Date
! Event
!
!
!
! Total
!
|-
| 23–28 January 2012
| 2012 European Championships
| align=center | 1<br />157.52
| align=center bgcolor=silver | 2<br />84.71
| align=center bgcolor=gold | 1<br />176.52
| align=center bgcolor=gold | 1<br />261.23
|
|-
| 25–26 December 2011
| 2012 Russian Championships
|
| align=center | 1<br />88.24
| align=center | 1<br />171.43
| align=center bgcolor=gold | 1<br />259.67
|
|-
! style="background-color:#ffdead" colspan=7 | 2010–11 season
|-
! Date
! Event
! notes
!
!
! Total
!
|-
| 2 October 2010
| 2010 Japan Open
|
| align=center | –
| align=center | 3<br />151.00
| align=center bgcolor=#c96 | 3
|
|-
! style="background-color:#ffdead" colspan=7 | 2009–10 season
|-
! Date
! Event
! notes
!
!
! Total
!
|-
| 16–18 February 2010
| 2010 Winter Olympics
|
| align=center | 1<br />90.85
| align=center | 2<br />165.51
| align=center bgcolor=silver | 2<br />256.36
|
|-
| 20–21 January 2010
| 2010 European Championships
|
| align=center bgcolor=gold | 1<br />91.30
| align=center bgcolor=gold | 1<br />164.09
| align=center bgcolor=gold | 1<br />255.39
|
|-
| 24–26 December 2009
| 2010 Russian Championships
|
| align=center | 1<br />100.09
| align=center | 1<br />171.50
| align=center bgcolor=gold | 1<br />271.59
|
|-
| 23–24 October 2009
| 2009 Cup of Russia
|
| align=center | 1<br />82.25
| align=center | 1<br />158.40
| align=center bgcolor=gold | 1<br />240.65
|
|-
! style="background-color:#ffdead" colspan=7 | 2005–06 season
|-
! Date
! Event
! notes
!
!
! Total
!
|-
| 14–16 February 2006
| 2006 Winter Olympics
|
| align=center | 1<br />90.66
| align=center | 1<br />167.67
| align=center bgcolor=gold | 1<br />258.33
|
|-
| 20–21 January 2006
| 2006 European Championships
|
| align=center bgcolor=gold | 1<br />82.80
| align=center bgcolor=gold | 1<br />162.53
| align=center bgcolor=gold | 1<br />245.33
|
|-
| 25–29 December 2005
| 2006 Russian Championships
|
| align=center | 1
| align=center | 1
| align=center bgcolor=gold | 1<br />1.5
|
|-
| 25–26 November 2005
| 2005 Cup of Russia
|
| align=center | 1<br />87.20
| align=center | 1<br />154.60
| align=center bgcolor=gold | 1<br />241.80
|
|-
! style="background-color:#ffdead" colspan=7 | 2004–05 season
|-
! Date
! Event
!
!
!
! Total
!
|-
| 14–20 March 2005
| 2005 World Championships
| align=center | 1<br />37.98
| align=center | 5<br />73.28
| align=center | WD
| align=center | –
|
|-
| 25–30 January 2005
| 2005 European Championships
|
| align=center bgcolor=silver | 2<br />75.33
| align=center bgcolor=gold | 1<br />151.81
| align=center bgcolor=gold | 1<br />227.14
|
|-
| 5–8 January 2005
| 2005 Russian Championships
|
| align=center | 1
| align=center | 1
| align=center bgcolor=gold | 1<br />1.5
|
|-
| 16–19 December 2004
| 2004–05 Grand Prix Final
|
| align=center | 1<br />84.35
| align=center | 1<br />167.40
| align=center bgcolor=gold | 1<br />251.75
|
|-
| 25–28 November 2004
| 2004 Cup of Russia
|
| align=center | 1<br />74.95
| align=center | 1<br />158.50
| align=center bgcolor=gold | 1<br />233.45
|
|-
! style="background-color:#ffdead" colspan=7 | 2003–04 season
|-
! Date
! Event
!
!
!
! Total
!
|-
| 22–28 March 2004
| 2004 World Championships
| align=center | 1
| align=center bgcolor=gold | 1
| align=center bgcolor=gold | 1
| align=center bgcolor=gold | 1<br />2.0
|
|-
| 2–8 February 2004
| 2004 European Championships
| align=center | 1
| align=center bgcolor=gold | 1
| align=center bgcolor=silver | 2
| align=center bgcolor=silver | 2<br />3.0
|
|-
| 5–8 January 2004
| 2004 Russian Championships
|
| align=center | 1
| align=center | 1
| align=center bgcolor=gold | 1<br />1.5
|
|-
| 11–14 December 2003
| 2003–04 Grand Prix Final
|
| align=center | 1<br />78.25
| align=center | 2<br />146.94
| align=center bgcolor=silver | 2<br />225.19
|
|-
| 20–23 November 2003
| 2003 Cup of Russia
|
| align=center | 1<br />80.35
| align=center | 1<br />150.90
| align=center bgcolor=gold | 1<br />231.25
|
|-
| 13–16 November 2003
| 2003 Trophée Lalique
|
| align=center | 1<br />75.35
| align=center | 1<br />158.94
| align=center bgcolor=gold | 1<br />234.29
|
|-
| 30 October – 3 November 2003
| 2003 Skate Canada International
|
| align=center | 1<br />81.25
| align=center | 1<br />152.40
| align=center bgcolor=gold | 1<br />233.65
|
|}
References
External links
- Evgeni Plushenko at fskate.ru
- Evgeni Plushenko at IceNetwork