Plushenko claims seventh European figure skating title

Yevgeny Plushenko claimed a seventh European men's figure skating title on Saturday to spearhead the Russian charge towards the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. Russia claimed seven of the 12 medals on offer in northwest England this week including two of the titles with Tatiana Volosozhar and Maxim Trankov leading a sweep of the pairs event. Russians also took silver and bronze in ice dancing with the women's competition the only discipline where they failed to medal with Italy's Carolina Kostner winning a fourth continental gold on Saturday night. Earlier Plushenko danced to the music from the film Moulin Rouge and the triple world champion wowed with a quadruple jump and two triple axels. The 29-year-old scored a total of 261.23 points, ahead of young compatriot Artur Gachinski (246.27), while France's defending champion Florent Amodio had to be content with bronze (234.18). But despite easing to victory Plushenko revealed he will not be competing in the world championships in France in March because of a knee injury, as he battles to be in top form for Sochi."After these championships I'm going to consult with my doctors and undergo surgery on my left knee in Munich," the 2006 Olympic champion explained. "But I'll be there next year and of course in 2014 for the Olympic Games. If I skate like that while injured I can skate so much better when I'm fully fit." Plushenko returned to competition this season after a two-year absence after winning silver at the 2010 Vancouver Games, where Russia went home without a gold medal. "I'll be 31 years at the Games and I want to prove to myself that I can have great results and not just to take part in the Olympic Games." Gachinski, 18, who trains with Plushenko and his mentor, Alexei Mishin, in St Petersburg, confirmed the positive impression he gave when winning bronze in last year's world championships as he claimed his first European medal. "I'm really satisfied with what I've done," said Gachinski, who outshone his idol with two quad jumps in his programme to Bram Stoker's Dracula and Interview With A Vampire. Kostner impressed with her classical routine to a Mozart selection for piano and orchestra, to add to her titles from 2007, 2008 and 2010. The 24-year-old Italian placed first in both the short programme and the free skate final to take gold with a combined total of 183.55 points. Finland's Kiira Korpi took silver (166.94) and Georgia's Elene Gedevanishvili bronze (165.93).