Figure skating-Plushenko to make a comeback next season
MOSCOW, Feb 24 (Reuters)
Olympic figure skating championYevgeny Plushenko will make a comeback next season after takinga year off from competition, his coach Alexei Mishin said onSaturday.
The 24-year-old Russian, widely regarded as most giftedskater of his generation, has not competed since winning themen's title at the Turin Olympics 12 months ago.
"Yevgeny has decided to resume his amateur skating career,"Mishin told a news conference at the national cup event in Tver.
Many felt Plushenko would retire following his gold-medalperformance in Turin where he outclassed the opposition to winthe only title he was missing from his sporting resume.
"I think he was missing that competitive spirit, the drive,"Mishin said. "I think he feels quite capable of regaining thetop rankings he has held for so many years."
The coach did not say whether Plushenko, who has also wonthree world and five European titles, intended to carry on untilthe 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.