QUOTE (cekoni @ 8/2/2010, 22:23)
More texts about European Championships 2010
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Yevgeny Plushenko has given a much-needed boost to Russian figure skating ahead of the Winter Olympics.
The 27-year-old reclaimed the men's title as his country landed three of the four titles at the European championships.
It was the most successful Europeans for Russia since just before the 2006 Winter Games, but the team has been in the doldrums since the Turin Games.
The Russians had not produce a medal in the men's or women's event at Europeans since 2006, also losing their pairs stranglehold. But that has all changed as they showed they are ready to challenge for three Olympic titles -- men's, pairs and dance.
The return of Plushenko last year after retiring following Turin has proved a major boost.
He showed he still has the jumps and the program to compete against younger rivals.
The three-time world champion led both the short program and free skate to finish a massive 16.85 points ahead of Olympic silver medallist Stephane Lambiel of Switzerland, also returning after more than a year off with a thigh injury.
France's Brian Joubert failed to show he has recovered his form sufficiently after a foot injury, as he struggled to third, and lost his European title, putting his ability to challenge for Olympic gold in doubt....
Nice to read you here... 
