http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSLDE6 ... 0599368:z0Thu Feb 11, 2010 8:51pm EST, By Pritha SarkarOlympics-Figure skating-The Plushenko circus rolls into townVANCOUVER, Feb 11 (Reuters) - It took all of 13 comical seconds for the consumate showman Yevgeny Plushenko to prove once again that he is the big figure skating act in town at the Olympics on Thursday.
"I'm not going to speak because I'm superstitious. I'm going to talk after short programme if you don't mind, okay?" the Russian Olympic champion said as he rushed past reporters with the urgency of a man running late for a hot date.
"One question?" pleaded a journalist.
"No question, okay. Thank you very much," was Plushenko's parting shot as he dramatically took a majestic bow before disappearing in a blur out of the Pacific Coliseum.
Before arriving in Vancouver, Plushenko had sparked off an intense debate by suggesting judges could still manipulate the scoring system and a champion with his reputation could benefit from such a situation.
Perhaps knowing the stir his comments had caused, Plushenko kept his lips sealed on the eve of the opening ceremony. Plushenko's appearance at the Olympic rink was a surprise as until Thursday he had kept away from prying eyes.
Like a man befitting the moniker "King on Ice" Plushenko surveyed all corners of the arena like a monarch examining his subjects before he stepped on to the gleaming surface.
Knowing that he had the attention of every single person in attendance, he took off his red and white Russian team jacket to reveal an all-black outfit complete with black boots.
But once the music for his short programme began to blare out of the loud speakers, he opted to stand still with hands on hips for several seconds before finally entertaining his audience by performing some basic step sequences.
But such is the aura that surrounds the man, even a cleaner sweeping through the stands stopped in his tracks to watch the champion in action. After sleep-walking through most of the 40-minute session, Plushenko appeared to perk up in the end and attempted some of the jumps for which he is famed.
While the 27-year-old, who has come out of a 3-1/2 year retirement to try and become the first man in almost six decades to win back-to-back Olympic titles, was unwilling share his thoughts on Thursday, his rivals were more open.
"I'm feeling jetlagged as it's my first day here," said former world champion and Turin silver medallist Stephane Lambiel, who looked world weary after completing a run through his short programme.
Among the others who went through their paces on Thursday were 2009 world champion Evan Lysacek and Canadian medal hopeful Patrick Chan.