Plushenko leads Joubert
ByReuters
Published 20/01/2006 at 16:30 GMT
Champion Yevgeny Plushenko laid the foundations for an intriguing men's competition after gaining a lead over local favourite Brian Joubert at the European figure skating championships on Friday.
FIGURE SKATING 2006 European Championships Evgeni Plushenko Russia
Image credit: Reuters
The Russian, whose participation had been in doubt after he was laid low with 'flu this week, will carry a 4.95 point advantage over 2004 gold medallist Joubert into Saturday's finale.
Plushenko earned 82.80 with his near flawless display, while world champion Stephane Lambiel finished third.
"I'm happy because I was really sick and I was able to skate quite well in spite of that," said Plushenko, who is targeting a fifth continental title.
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FIGURE SKATING 2006 Evgeni Plushenko Lyon European Championships
Image credit: Reuters
"It was a bit hard to skate, to breathe. I'm still coughing badly. I was on intravenous fluids for three days and it's thanks to my doctor who got me back on my feet that I'm here."
Plushenko began his routine by doubling an intended triple toeloop in his opening quadruple-triple combination.
That was his only deviation from his scheduled programme.
The former triple world champion's fast-paced step sequences and captivating choreography to Puccini's Tosca raised roars of approval from the fans.
Punching the air in delight, Plushenko skated off the arena blowing kisses to his fans and knowing that Joubert would have to come up with something special to surpass him.
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FIGURE SKATING 2006 Brian Joubert Lyon European Championships
Image credit: Reuters
The Frenchman, who had accused Plushenko of playing mind games earlier in the week with his threat to withdraw from the championships, took centre stage dressed in black as Secret Agent 007.
ENERGETIC PERFORMANCE
But his energetic performance to the James Bond soundtrack Die Another Day began with a stumble on his opening quadruple toeloop. After completing the rest of the routine without a hitch, his score of 77.85 failed to dislodge Plushenko from the top.
Lambiel was the first of the main medal contenders to test the ice but he effectively ruled himself out of the top prize after crashing to the ground on his opening triple Axel.
The fall earned the 20-year-old a one point deduction but put him provisionally in pole position with 74.73 points before he was leapfrogged by the superior displays of Plushenko and Joubert.
"The Axel is never my best jump, everybody knows that but I gave it a good try," said Lambiel, who became the first Swiss man in 58 years to win the world title in 2005 after Plushenko had withdrawn from the event with a groin injury.
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FIGURE SKATING 2006 Evgeni Plushenko Lyon European Championships
Image credit: Reuters
"It's important that Yevgeny is here so that you have someone to go up against."
Later on Friday, Tatiana Navka and Roman Kostomarov will be targeting a third successive European crown and Russia's third gold medal of the championships in the free dance.
Tatiana Totmianina and Maxim Marinin began Russia's bid to win all four disciplines in Lyon by clinching their fifth consecutive pairs title, while Irina Slutskaya claimed a record seventh crown.
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