Evgeni Plushenko (RUS) at the Referee's Table withdraws from the Men's Event.

(14 February 2014)  The second incarnation of Evgeni Plushenko's competitive skating career came to end end Thursday night in the Sochi Iceberg Ice Palace.  After the high of being part of Russian's gold medal Team champions, the lows hit with a career ending retreat from the individual event.

Following the Team free skate Plushenko complained of a sore back, but continued his training this week.  Schedule to skate first in the second group of the Men's Short Program, Plushenko skated the warm-up poorly.  On an Axel attempt he opened up, landed on two feet, and then reached for his back.  Plushenko had said after the Team Event that his back had bothered him during the free skate, in which he doubled several jumps in the second half of the program.

Plushenk at the boards with coach Alexei Mishin just prior to withdrawing.

After skating around aimlessly at the end of the warm-up, Plushenko went to the boards and had a lengthy discussion with his coach Alexei Mishin.  When his name was called he slowly skated to the Referee and withdrew from the competition.  He left the ice waiving to the stunned crowd who where there in force to see the home country favorite,

There was much speculation before the Olympics and during the Team Event whether Plushenko was strong enough to skate four performance in one week and whether he would withdraw before the individual event and allow alternate Maxim Kovtun to compete instead.  After he appeared to be genuinely injured after the Team free skate, the idea of a substitution gained more credibility, as a real necessity, and not just a pre-competition ploy to allow two different Russian men to compete in the Sochi Games.  But Plushenko instead chose to give it a go in the individual event.  Conspiracy theorists now speculate that withdrawing when he did was timed to insure that Kovtun could not skate in the individual event due to rivalries within the Russian skating federation.  All of which is speculation as no one within the Russian federation is talking on the record at this point.

Plushenko described his condition saying, "Yesterday (Wednesday) I fell on the quad in training and I felt a problem in my back.  Today I went into training to see what I could do but I couldn't jump.  I skated maybe seven minutes maximum. I tired and tried and tried today."

Then about the warm-up he said, "In the warm-up I did the triple loop and triple Lutz, but after the first triple Axel I stepped out and felt terrible pain in my leg and the second one was just a terrible landing.  I couldn't feel my legs after it.  It hurt and that was it.  I had to withdraw."  He added, "I am sorry for my fans and for everybody, but I tried till the end.  I almost cried.  It's hard, believe me.  This is not how I wanted to end my career.  I am very disappointed.  But I tried to do my best."

Some skaters comment on Plushenko withdrawing from the competition:

Peter Liebers (GER) - "I heard about it on the bus on the way to the rink.  It was on Facebook that he had withdrawn.  We all thought something might happen.  Everyone was talking about it, you know, was he really (going to) skate or not.  Up until now he said he would and then, five minutes before he skates, he says he won't.

Han Yan (CHN) - "It's a pity that he didn't skate.  But it's understandable given his injuries.  His perseverance is a good lesson for me."

Michal Brezina (CZE) - "I was watching in the food court in the village and as soon as he did the triple Axel in the warm-up everyone turned around and said 'he's probably not going to skate.'  What he hass done (in his career) has been very inspiring and he is a great skater.  I tjionk he just realised his health is more important than another medal.  I think it was a good decision - who knows what might have happened.  You have to be careful for a back problem; it's better than ending up in a wheelchair."  He also noted whne he skated, "Half the people had left after Evgeni withdrew, so it was very quiet.

Brian Joubert (FRA) - "I love to skate against Evgeni.  He was always a big fighter and a great skater and sportsman.  He took the good decision to withdraw.  He has a lot of pain with his back.  He did a good job for the team and it was a good decision. ... Maybe he wanted to try.  He came this morning to practice.  He wanted to try.  Today he did the six-minute warm-up but it (skating his program) was not possible.  It's important for him to keep his body in good condition.  There is a life after skating.

Patrick Chan (CAN) - "Funny enough.  I was warming up in the athletes area.  I knew Plushenko was skating first and I could tell something wasn't right.  It's very disappointing.  It's fun tio skate against one of your idols.  I wish him all the best and a speedy recovery."

Javier Fernandez (ESP) - "I'm not surprised.  He was complaining about his back after the team event.  I think it was excessive for him to skate two programs. If I was Plushenko I would have given my place to another person if I wasn't 100%.  But Plushenko is Pluishenko and he can decide what he can' and can't do."

Yuzuru Hanyu (JPN) - "I don't know all the details, but I was disappointed not to see him in first place when I took the ice.  I took up skating because of him.  I respect him and admire him dearly.  It's just sad.  I'm really glad I had the opportunity to skate against him in the team event."

Jason Brown (USA) - "I admire him so much.  He's the most decorated figure skater and I hope he recovers well.  I am really sad he had to withdraw.  Every one in Russia is probably sad."

Tomas Verner (CZE) - I'm sorry for the other Russian guys who couldn't take his place.  I think Zhenya is a great athlete but today it was more expected that he wouldn't be able to compete.  He might have just out-skated himself in the team event.  He won a gold medal there and I congratulate him for that and it is rightfully his.  But it's a shame he couldn't say 'guys, I'm tired, put someone else in the game instead of me'"

Alexei Bychenko (ISR) - "I respect him very much.  After all the things he has experienced and his injuries, he came back and performed perfect in the team event.  I'm sad he couldn't compete in the individual event."

Viktor Pfeifer (AUT) - He should be happy.  He won his gold medal.  It's hard for athletes to skate when they're hurt. I respect him for what he's achieved."

Paul Bonifacio Parkenson (ITA) - "It's unfortunate for him to withdraw.  He's done so much in his skating.  He competed twice already.  A lot of us didn't get to compete as much.  We should also be proud he came out here and he competed.  He did a great job in both events.

Brendan Kerry (AUS) - "It was amazing being on the warm-up with him.  I was focusing on trying to do well in front of him and I was paranoid because I didn't want to get in his way.  I didn't know about him withdrawing until after I'd skated."

Jeremy Abbott (USA) - "I have no idea what happened.  I was just trying to focus on myself.  I was told that he withdrew, so that shortened my preparation time a little bit.  I'm very sorry that he had to pull out of the event."

Plushenko's competitive career ends, but he has vowed to continue skating in shows.  He said, "I need a big rest now, and to have some treatment.  Then I need to start my rehabilitation.  I have already had four pills today. ... Of course I will keep skating.  I will skate in many shows, but for now I need a very big rest."