http://www.gazeta.ru/sport/2012/01/28/a_3978085.shtml
TRANSLATION:
“People call me the King of the Ice”
Evgeni Plushenko about the victory on ECh – 2012
Evgeni Plushenko, who became 7 times European champion in the European championships, after the end of the competition, told us, why he decided to jump the quad in the free program and once again confirmed that he will not participate in the World championships in Nice, but he will take part in the 2014 Olympics.
- After the short program, you said, that you will not take the risk to jump the quad in the free.
- On the evening training on Friday I did the triple and felt that I can do more. Then I jumped the quad and felt that my knee did not shoot. On the day of the competition I did the training in the same method and the quad worked.
- Needles to ask you if you are glad with your performance at the free program.
- They told me even, that I seemed more happy than at the Olympics. With every year it becomes more difficult to skate. Old injuries start to be felt and new ones appear. That is why I am so happy of my performance here.
- After the quad, may be your courage rose and you did not have any difficulty with the other elements.
- I remember the World championships in Budapest. I did the cascade “4-3-2” and after that , when I came to the triple Axel, my skate flew away. Then Brian Joubert became the champion. This became for me a good lessen. Here it was more easy in a sense that I had the preliminary competition, it was a good practice.
- How do you feel, being the 7 time European champion?
- It is as if I went 10 years back. I began a new period in my career.
- You changed suddenly your mind about the quad, can you change it for the Worlds too? Can we hope to see you in Nice?
- Now my first task is to cure myself, so that I can train of full value for the next season. I could not train with full value nor in Italy, nether in Estonia in the training camps. I will not be in Nice, I give way to the young.
- How long do you plan to compete?
- I am not one of those, who, when they win one Olympics start winning money from their golden medal. The sportsman wants to do what he can do best – to compete. Now for me the most important motivation is the Sochi Olympics. They will be my 4th Olympics. I don’t know what the result will be, but my participation itself will be a victory.
- Even today people call you “God” and the competitors just fall down before you.
- This is a bit much. People call me “King of the Ice”. I try to be one and to remain as one in the memory of my admirers. I love figure skating. I need the courage, the adrenalin, the atmosphere of the competition. Without that I cannot imagine my life.