Plushenko shows medal mettle

Figure skating superstar Yevgeny Plushenko will compete in the individual men's event at the Winter Olympics, Russian federation president Alexander Gorshkov confirmed on Monday.

There had been reports the 31-year-old veteran might pull out on medical grounds after complaining of back pain after helping Russia to its first gold of the Games in the new team event.

It was the second Olympic gold for Plushenko, 31, who also won in Turin in 2006. He was the silver medalist at the 2002 and 2010 Games.