Russian figure skating icon Evgeny Plushenko announced on Friday that he will resume his sporting career.
The 32-year-old two-time Olympic champion said he would aim to compete at next year’s European and world championships.
“It’s possible to say that I am returning to sport,” the ITAR-TASS news agency quoted Plushenko as saying.
Last year Plushenko, who won the Olympic gold in Sochi in the team event but pulled out of the individual competition because of a back injury, announced his decision to hang up his skates.
But after he underwent successful spinal surgery in Israel, Plushenko backtracked and spoke of his desire to compete at 2018 Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, after first taking a break.
“I started to practise little by little and I want to take part in competitions in near future,” he said.
“I’m planning to take part in the Grand Prix this autumn to win a place in the GP series final at Barcelona.”
He said he wanted to challenge for a place on the Russian team at the European and world championships next year.
“My main goal is to prepare for the 2018 Olympics,” he added.
Plushenko won Olympic gold medals in 2006 and 2014, silver medals in 2002 and 2010, three world championships and seven European titles during his career.
The president of Russia’s figure skating federation Alexander Gorshkov spoke of his support for Plushenko’s decision.
“He remains a national team member and naturally has the right to take part in the competitions,” Gorshkov said.
“He has missed the post-Olympic year to have some rest but now the time to start preparations for the next season has come.
“But it will not be easy to pass all the necessary qualifications to win the right to represent Russia at the major competitions, even for such a great skater.”