Evgeni Plushenko

After a year of hard training, the skater took 6th place at the Russian Junior Championships. At the age of 14, before the Cup of Russia, he felt back pain, despite which, he nevertheless participated in the competition and took 4th place, leaving adult skaters behind. These were the first, but far from the last, problems with Plushenko's back. Thanks to full dedication, the treasury of personal achievements began to be replenished with new awards - the bronze medal of the Russian Championship, the silver of the European Championship and the 3rd place of the World Championship.

Around the same time, his close friend and colleague Alexei Yagudin was training with Tatyana Tarasova, and a rivalry began between the two skaters. They first met on ice in 1998 at the World Championships. Then Plushenko took 3rd place, and Yagudin managed to win a gold medal. In 2002, Eugene was to participate in the Olympics in Salt Lake City. Due to injuries, Plushenko finished 2nd at the Grand Prix and withdrew from the European Championships in order to better prepare for the Games. It seemed that evil fate hung over the skater. He fell at the first rental, however, according to the total points, he was able to take away the silver medal from Salt Lake City. The following year was a triumph for the skater: longtime rival Alexei Yagudin left the big sport. Zhenya took 1st place at the World Championship, repeating this victory in 2004. It is noteworthy that that year gave Eugene 4 marks of 6.0 for artistry in a free program. But Plushenko had to miss the 2005 world championship due to injury.

Eugene pays special attention to the popularization of figure skating. In 2015, together with his wife Yana Rudkovskaya, the athlete presented the show "The Snow King", in which he played the role.

A year later, the Nutcracker show appeared, where holographic technologies were used for the first time in the world. In 2017, the Vienna Symphony Orchestra participated in the updated ice musical, modern special effects, bright scenery and costumes were used. Then the skater continued experiments on combining his favorite sport with other areas of art. In 2018, Evgeny prepared the Swan Lake project, in which elements of ice skating are combined with ballet. Modern technologies made it possible to change the space of the stage, the magical mood of the fairy tale was conveyed by the symphony orchestra.

Another ice show "Cinderella" together with Yana Rudkovskaya Evgeny presented by the end of 2019. Plushenko went on the ice with his son Alexander, and besides them, Sochi Olympic champions Adelina Sotnikova and Yulia Lipnitskaya were also involved in the project.

A loud statement about Yevgeny's departure from the sport was made a week before the opening of his own figure skating academy, where children from the age of three were accepted. In the first days of the ice school, called Plushenko's Angels, it turned out that 1 lesson in a group cost 2,000 rubles. Photo and video rentals of young athletes are periodically published on Instagram by the famous founder of the educational institution. Plushenko’s online skirmish with coach Eteri Tutberidze, which flared up in the second half of 2019, deserved the attention of the press. It all started with the performance of Alina Zagitova in the program "Time", where the girl announced the suspension of her career. Plushenko spoke about this situation. He did not say anything specific, but noted that in order for her desire to practice to return, the athlete needs to devote more time. The skater hinted that perhaps Alina would want to change her coach. The Khrustalny coaching staff reacted negatively to his words, accusing Evgeny of trying to take the skater into his own group. Plushenko's answer was not long in coming, the skater explained that he does not buy athletes, emphasizing that children get into Khrustalny only with the ability to do triple jumps, that is, ready-made athletes, and do not “grow up” on their own. Zagitova put an end to this conflict, answering that she was not going to end her career, but simply took a break and intends to work with her former coaches in the future.

Paying attention to the development of sports, Eugene also participates in the public life of the country. From 2007 to 2011, Plushenko was a deputy from the Just Russia party in the Legislative Assembly of St. Petersburg. In addition, he is a member of the organizing committee for the preparation of the application of the city of Sochi to host the 2014 Olympics.mIn the Russian presidential elections in 2018, Plushenko, along with Tatyana Tarasova, Ilya Averbukh, Elena Isinbayeva and Tatyana Navka, became a member of the group of Vladimir Putin's confidants.

The FIFA World Cup, held in Russia, also could not do without Plushenko. This time, Zhenya was appointed as the ambassador of Sochi as the host city of the World Cup.

The skater registered his first marriage in 2005, his wife was a student of the sociological faculty of St. Petersburg State University Maria Ermak. In 2006, the son of Evgeni Plushenko was born, who was named Yegor. The athlete's relationship with his wife did not develop in the best way when he met Yana.

Honored Master of Sports of Russia

Ten times champion of Russia

Seven times European champion

Three-time silver medalist of the European Championship

Three times world champion

Two-time Olympic champion

Two-time Olympic silver medalist

Cavalier of two Orders of Honor