'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Evgeni Plushenko of Russia reacts after performing his men short program routine during the ISU European Figure Skating Championships in Zagreb on January 24, 2013.
ZAGREB - Former Olympic and world champion Yevgeny Plushenko endured a nightmare return to the European championships on Thursday when a tumble left him down in sixth place after the short programme.
The Russian star is taking part in the event after a two-year absence as he builds towards the 2014 Olympics on home ground in Sochi.
But he bungled his quadruple jump and then fell attempting a triple axel to leave him in sixth spot on 74.82 points.
France’s Florent Amodio, the European champion in 2011, leads the way with 89.82 points, ahead of Spain’s Javier Fernandez, on 88.80, and former triple champion Brian Joubert of France on 83.93.
