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"EL JULI” OF  FIGURE SKATING


   While being just thirteen years old, Julián López, “El Juli”, gave his first “muletazos” with the red cape in the Plazas de Toros, Evgeny Plushenko, Russian figure skater of the same age, learned his first triple jumps at the ice rink. Now, only five years later, El Juli has transformed into a figure in bullfighting and Plushenko, a skater, has become a World Champion and created his unique, trade mark jump combination.

  Because of Plushenko's world tour where he is also working on his new programs for the next year's Winter Olympics and the figure skating course organized by the Ice Club Citibank Majadahonda in August, the Majadahonda Ice Palace will host the first of the three exhibitions featuring this Russian skater.

   Tonight at 21:30, Plushenko will demonstrate at the rink why a 18–year-old was proclaimed a World Champion. It won't be, though, the only opportunity to see him. The tour got such a reception in Madrid, that two more shows were scheduled on August 11th and 18th. 

  Since Plushenko started to compete in 1996 and  became the Junior World Champion in 1997, despite the early age, he has traveled almost all over the world showing his talent in skating. He won every figure skating competition from the European 2000 to Worlds that took place in Canada in the last two years (with the exception of Worlds 2000)  and participated in events in Finland and Japan.

  The work hasn't been always easy for Plushenko because of the economic difficulties in his country, and an injury that forced him to take a break in his impetuous career in skating.

  Sometime last year he had to stop skating after he got hurt various nerves and tendons of the right feet by cutting himself with a skate.

  But after the injuries and some other difficulties Plushenko executed eight triples and two jump combinations at the last  World Championships and returned to the top of figure skating, a sport  practically monopolized by the Russians. This night at the Majadahonda’s Ice Rink he will skate the programs which got him the World title. Such a rare opportunity to cool down in the hot August of Madrid. 

   ABC Madrid. Marina G. Bueno
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

   Translation from Spanish & photo by Paloma       Design by Liza      Special thanks to Gerry Campos




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