Plushenko will not skate in Olympic gala
SOCHI, Russia (AP) Injured Russian gold medalist Evgeni Plushenko will not skate in the gala show at the end of the Sochi Olympics.
Plushenko helped the host nation win the team event, but then withdrew during warmups for the men's short program with a back injury. He has not recovered sufficiently to appear in the gala on Saturday.
His manager, Ari Zakarian, says ''he is not able to skate because of his injury. He is spending time now with his family.''
Plushenko is the first modern-era figure skater to win medals in four Olympics: gold in 2006 and 2014, silver in 2002 and 2010. He would have been a headliner in the gala, which features the top performers from the games doing show numbers.
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Associated Press writer Jim Heintz contributed to this story.
