European Skating Championships in Tallinn: Plushenko is back!

The European Skating Championship organised in Tallinn have seen an important event today during the short program.

Indeed, the Russian Yevgeni Plushenko who has not been in a major skating competition for 4 years is leading the rankings with a record grade of 91.30 (since the new system in 2004).

In spite of a new record, the current European champion Brian Joubert is closely following with a very nice 88.55 - only 2 months after he has been operated on his right leg.


Cock-a-doodle-do (in French cocorico.. :))! Another Frenchie is in the Top3. Yannick Ponsero blew up his season best with a 82.40, which leaves him all chances to win the title after the short program. In 2009 he placed first in the free program after a 9th position in the short and a final 4th position.

Two French skaters on a European podium would not be new since it happened in 2003 in Malmö. Brian Joubert (2nd) and Stannick Jeannette (3rd) could not beat ...Evgueny Plushenko... a sign?


The free progam will take place tomorrow evening @ Saku Arena in Tallinn.

The rankings after the short program:

1. Yevgeni Plushenko (RUS) 91.30
2. Brian Joubert (FRA) 88.55
3. Yannick Ponsero (FRA) 82.40
4. Michal Brezina (RTC) 79.60
5. Stephane Lambiel (SUI) 77.75
6. Alban Preaubert (FRA) 76.37
7. Samuel Contesti (ITA) 75.90
8. Tomas Verner (RTC) 72.75
9. Stefan Lindemann (ALL) 70.19
10. Kristoffer Berntsson (SUE) 69.20
11. Kevin Van der Perren (BEL) 67.72
12. Adrian Schultheiss (SUE) 66.55
13. Javier Fernandez (ESP) 66.50
14. Anton Kovalevski (UKR) 65.20
15. Viktor Pfeifer (AUT) 63.42
16. Paolo Bacchini (ITA) 60.90
17. Sergei Voronov (RUS) 60.27
18. Zoltan Kelemen (ROU) 59.40
19. Jorik Hendrickx (BEL) 58.70
20. Gregor Urbas (SLV) 56.90