As Weir Expected, Plushenko Makes a Strong Move for Title
FIGURE SKATING, MEN’S LONG PROGRAM
Johnny Weir was right.
The U.S. champion has been saying for months that the Olympic gold medal is Evgeni Plushenko’s to lose, and the blond Russian backed him up Tuesday by performing a technically superb if emotionally flat short program. Plushenko leads Weir by 10.66 points, and reigning world champion Stephane Lambiel by 11.62.
The other U.S. competitors, Matt Savoie and Evan Lysacek, are eighth and 10th after performing flawed routines.
A victory by Plushenko, the Salt Lake City silver medalist and a three-time world champion, would put Russia halfway to a sweep of the figure skating gold medals.
Russians Tatiana Totmianina and Maxim Marinin won the pairs title Monday.
Go beyond the scoreboard
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