It took the determined Russian four years to claim the one precious medal that escaped his collection.

Evgeni Plushenko

At the 2006 Torino Olympics Evgeni obliterated the cmpetition, winning by a record 27 points and setting new scoring records along the way. He owns the standard for widest Olympic margin of victory, individual short, free and overall points totals.

The new ISU code of points was no match for Evgeni. From its introduction in selected events previous to the Olympics, when Evgeni competed, the almost sure bet was he would be setting new records.

Evgeni knew how good he could be. Three World Championships proved his prowess.

He battled injuries that threatened to cut his skating career and Olympic dream short. Illness almost detoured him at the Europeean Championships.

But seeing the five Olympic rings and competing on his sport's biggest stage, ignited his determination to leave no doubt who would wear the Olympic gold medal home.

His mother saw the talent in her young son early on in his life.

Plushenko said he has simple goals. "I want to win everything. If there's something out there to win, I want it."

That is quite imposing to Plushenko’s competitors, considering he has already won three World Championships, three European Championships, four Russian National titles and an Olympic Silver Medal.

Plushenko illustrated how dominant he was in the 2001 World Championships. At the suggestion of Mishin, Plushenko skated two different long programs – one in the qualifying round and the other in the free skate. The result was Plushenko’s first World Championship.

"Evgeni’s creative and artistic potential is so huge we can’t present him in the same light year after year," Mishin said. That is why Plushenko’s artistry has been so superior in recent years.

Mishin describes Plushenko’s skating to that of Shakespeare. "Only Shakespeare was able to reflect on people’s feeling like love, unhappiness, disappointment, treachery and devotion. Evgeni is going to be Shakespeare. Those two are talents of the same degree."

Plushenko’s family made every sacrifice imaginable to see their son's talent cultivated. The modest family could not afford to move to St. Petersburg so they sent Plushenko with his mother to work with Mishin.

Evgeni as a young boy in Russia. Photo courtesy of www.kingonice.com

After a short while, Plushenko's mother had to leave him with Mishin to live so she could return home to the family. But she returned almost a year later for good. Plushenko, only a young boy, had to mostly fend for himself. Mishin gave him money for food and necessities.

Plushenko's dancing skills would force him to make a career decision as a young boy. Part of Plushenko's workout in Mishin's skating school included ballet with a choreographer from the famous Mariinsky Theater Ballet. She offered him dance instead of skating. Puzzled, Plushenko asked his mother. She left the decision up to her son. "My Mom said that I had to choose. I made my choice," Plushenko said.

Plushenko keeps a busy life outside of skating. He is studying at the Russian Physical Culture Academy and is an officer in the Russian Army. Discipline has never been a problem with Plushenko. Mishin, known as a taskmaster in training his skaters, steered Plushenko on the right path.

Viktor Petrenko, former Olympic Gold Medalist from the Ukraine, was Plushenko's idol as a young skater, and they have become good friends since. In fact, Plushenko was apologetic when he beat Petrenko in a competition several years ago.

Plushenko is also showing the diversity and versatility of his skating as he sets new skating standards each year. His trademark moves - the quadruple toe-triple loop-double toe jump and the Biellmann spin - have yet to be matched to the degree of perfection he has maintained.

He is a proud Russian and doesn’t hesitate to share his good fortune with his family and country. He still lives with his parents in St. Petersburg and trains there. This past season, Plushenko won his second World Championship while skating to "St. Petersburgh 300", the celebration of the founding of St. Petersburg’s 300 years ago.