FIGURE SKATING: Spotlight on Evgeny Plushenko

Evgeny Plushenko burst onto the scene at the age of 15, when he won the World Junior Figure Skating Championships in 1997. In 1998, his first

Photo courtesy of Susanne Kempf

 season at the senior level, Evgeny won the bronze medal at the World Championships. He claimed the silver medal a year later. Known for his light and effortless jumps, Plushenko's signature move is the quadruple toe-triple toe-double loop combination. This combination, which he calls the 432, has contributed immensely to his success in the past two seasons. Last season, Plushenko skated extremely well, winning the Grand Prix Finals, and then the European Championships, beating his chief rival Alexei Yagudin for the first time in international competition. However, at the World Championships that year, Plushenko folded under the immense pressure and finished in fourth place, while Alexei Yagudin captured his third straight World title. Plushenko's disastrous performance at the World Championships have motivated him to completely makeover his look, style, and presentation this year.

Now, age 18, and a completely different skater, Evgeny Plushenko has been unbeatable all season, winning all of his Grand Prix Events, Russian Nationals, the European Championships, and the Grand Prix Finals. Plushenko's only loss all season was at the Japan Open (a pro-am event), to Alexei Yagudin. Plushenko has emerged as the one of the favorites to win the World Championships, which take place in Vancouver, Canada, from March 19-March 25. Although Alexei Yagudin will make it very hard for others to take away his World title, Plushenko is poised and ready to fight for the gold. The competition begins for the men on Monday, March 19, with the men's qualifying round.

Despite his busy schedule, Evgeny was able to sit down with us for an interview.

Photo courtesy of Susanne Kempf

You've changed a lot since last year. How did you prepare for this season? What was new in your preparation? -- I worked a lot, with my choreographer, with my coach. Namely we had new programs, new style -- in the jumps, that is. There was a lot of work. More than in the last year. In general, all the movements were new, the preparation was new, everything was new.

Everyone knows you as the master of the quadruple toe-triple toe-double loop combination (432). Does this make it easier to perform the 432 in competition, or does it put more pressure on you? -- I've never thought about it, actually. I just do it, and that's all. --And you don't know that everyone considers you the master of the 432? --No, I know that they consider me that, but I just never thought about it making the combination easier for me, or not.

What do you think of your competitors? -- All my competitors are strong: Elvis Stojko, [Todd] Eldredge, Alexei Yagudin, Timothy Goebel, Alexander Abt. They're all strong.

Out of all your competitors, whom do you admire the most? -- Well, jumpwise, that would be Timothy Goebel. He jumps very well, and has very nice jumps. In ability and strength, that would be Alexei Yagudin.

Who was your idol when you were growing up? -- My idol was Viktor Petrenko. --And who is your idol now? --Him still.

Have you ever thought about living and training in America? -- I thought about it before, but now I don't think about it anymore, because in Russia I have everything - ice, etc. But for the future, I think that maybe I'll skate in America.

Photo courtesy of Susanne Kempf

Do you know where? -- Not yet.

How do you want people to view you as a skater? -- How would I like them to? Well, naturally, I want them to like me the most, as a skater. I don't know, just that they love me.

What is your favorite aspect of skating - artistic, or technical? -- The jumps.

Do you consider yourself an athlete or an artist? -- Well, I think that they're totally different. Because, I already have some artistic abilities, and as an athlete, well, I'm a good jumper.

What do you think of the current trends in men's figure skating nowadays, how you have to have a quad to win? -- You need a quad, absolutely. Without a quad nowadays, you can't win. But you also need triple jumps.

Photo courtesy of Susanne Kempf

How does your success this season affect your ideas and strategies heading into the Worlds Championships? -- Well, I won [my events so far this season], I'm very happy. Of course, the one who lost is upset, but it means that I'm working, I have to keep trying, well, what else?