Russian figure skater Evgeny Plushenko pulls out of European championship

10:30, 25 January 2013

ZAGREB. January 25. KAZINFORM Russia's renowned figure skater Evgeny Plushenko has taken a decision to pull out of the European championships underway in Zagreb after the short program because of injury, the International Skating Union /ISU/ said in a report.

He fell while performing a triple axel. Specialists said his performance was impeded by a spinal trauma.

"I should tell you with deep sadness that Evgeny Plushenko has withdrawn from the European championships because of injury," international news media quoted Peter Krick, the ISU sporting director as saying in this connection. "We wish him the quickest of recoveries."

In the run-up to the free skate scheduled for Saturday, the leading trio in the male tournament includes Florent Amodio of Italy with 89.32 points, Javier Hernandez of Spain with 88.82 points and Brian Joubert of France with 83.93 points.

Plushenko had a surgery a month and a half ago but nonetheless he decided to take part in Russia's national championship where he won gold. He then decided to go to Zagreb.

"Evgeny can't complete with other contestants when he is tortured by spinal aches," his coach Alexei Mishin said, according to Itar-Tass.

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