Skater Plushenko returns to training after surgery

Skater Plushenko returns to training after surgery

Published May. 22, 2014 7:19 p.m. ET

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (AP) Two-time Olympic figure skating gold medalist Evgeni Plushenko has returned to training after announcing his retirement earlier this year due to injury.

The 31-year-old Russian withdrew from the men's figure skating short program at the Sochi Olympics in February due to a long-running back injury, days after helping Russia win the team gold. He has since said he would like to compete again if his body allows.

Plushenko's return to training Thursday after back surgery was ''like learning from zero,'' his agent Ari Zakarian told The Associated Press, and his priority is to skate in upcoming commercial shows.

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As for competing, ''we will see how it goes,'' Zakarian says.

At the training session in St. Petersburg, Plushenko performed several single jumps and other simple elements, Russian news agency R-Sport reports.

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