After three Olympic medals, Russian skater might not be done yet

Plushenko indicates he’ll continue to compete

VANCOUVER, British Columbia — The figure skating world may not have seen the last of Evgeni Plushenko.

The 2006 gold medalist won his second Olympic silver medal Thursday night, then indicated his career is not over.

“I knew I would accept any outcome,” the Russian said through a translator after finishing second to American Evan Lysacek at the Vancouver Games. “After this defeat, I’m not going to put my hands down and stop.”

The Russian was a silver medalist in 2002. He returned from a three-year retirement trying to become the first man to win consecutive gold medals since Dick Button in 1952. But he struggled on several jump landings and spins, and it cost him the title.

“I was positive that I won,” he said. “But I suppose Evan needs a medal more than I do. Maybe it’s because I already have one.

“I have to share with you: two silver and one Olympic gold medal is not too bad.”

Plushenko is the only man with three Olympic figure skating medals. Gillis Grafstrom of Sweden won four: gold in 1920, ‘24 and ‘28, silver in ‘32.

But the sport barely resembles the skating Grafstrom knew and, at 27, Plushenko already is considered old. Knee problems helped force the retirement that ended with his comeback this season.

Plushenko indicated he was confused by the direction skating is taking, wondering why the quadruple jump he mastered long ago isn’t more important.

“He’s a great jumper,” Plushenko said, referring to Lysacek. “He can do triple lutzes, triple flip, yes. And he’s a very good skater, like artistic.”

Lysacek didn’t do a quad, and Plushenko couldn’t resist a jab.

“If the Olympic champion doesn’t know how to jump a quad, I don’t know,” he said. “Now it’s not men’s figure skating, now it’s dancing.”

There could be extra enticement for Plushenko to stick around. The next Winter Olympics are in Sochi, Russia, in 2014.