Coach confirms Plushenko's plan to compete

It's true that Evgeni Plushenko, Russia’s 2006 Olympic champion and 2002 and 2010 silver medalist, will return to competition this month, his coach Alexi Mishin told AFP at the ISU Grand Prix Final. For the first time since the Vancouver Games, Plushenko intends to compete for his ninth Russian national title at the end of December. "We have completed the costumes," offered Mishin, Plushenko's coach of 18 years. Plushenko won the last of his three world titles in 2004, just when the new scoring system was introduced in the wake of the pairs judging scandal at the Salt Lake City Olympics. The points-based judging protocol requires competitors to execute much more difficult moves between the elements and perform more intricate footwork and spins. Mishin said that Plushenko has improved his transitional steps and spins, conceding that those components of his performance were costing him crucial points under the new system. "He does the spins much better than (at) Vancouver and Torino," Mishin said of Plushenko's performances at the past two Winter Games. "I say this with a high level of responsibility that this is the truth." Mishin added: "He does not jump better. He can do the quad but his left knee has some trouble. He needs to save it. He does triple Axel easily. Triple lutz, triple toe, no problem." Given that no Russian man qualified among the world’s top six to compete at the Grand Prix Final, the Russian federation might look to the past to find its future contender for the men’s podium at the fast-approaching 2014 Sochi Olympics. Russia’s top prospect in the past few years has been Artur Gachinski, also coached by Mishin, but he finished fifth in both his Grand Prix assignments this season and, thus far, has been unable to build on the potential he showed in his surprise bronze medal win at last season’s world championships. Mishin reported Gachinski is currently "not healthy." Nonetheless, he will prepare both men for the nationals and the European championships in Britain in January. "When Plushenko returned the first time (for the 2010 Olympics), I called him a hero. Now, returning a second time, I call him twice hero because it is very difficult for him to be coming back in this season. To do it twice is extremely complicated," Mishin said. "He told me he does not recommend it to anybody." Mishin affirmed that Plushenko’s ultimate plan is to compete on home soil in Sochi, although the injury to his left knee could be a problem. "It is dangerous," he said.