SOCHI, Russia -- Evgeni Plushenkos Olympics are over. His competitive career, too. The Russian star retired Thursday just after he withdrew from the mens event at the Sochi Olympics for medical reasons. The 31-year-old Plushenko is the only modern-era figure skater to win medals in four Olympics. He helped Russia win the team gold over the weekend. "I think its God saying, Evgeni, enough, enough with skating," said Plushenko, who originally was hurt in a training session Wednesday. "Age, its OK. But I have 12 surgeries. Id like to be healthy." In warmups before the short program, he fell on a triple axel and said it felt "like a knife in my back." He skated toward his coaches while bent over, then tried to loosen up by skating around the Iceberg rink some more. He then attempted another axel and botched it, shook his head and consulted with coach Alexei Mishin. When Plushenkos name was announced to the crowd seconds later -- to loud applause -- he skated to the event referee and withdrew. Before the latest injury, Plushenko said he planned to go out in style. "I said to myself, Evgeni, you must skate. Its two more days, short and long program," the 2006 Olympic gold medallist said. He also won Olympic silver in 2002 and 2010. Before leaving the ice, he held up both hands to the crowd as if to say he was sorry, and took a small bow. He was Russias only man in the competition, so the host country will have no finisher in the event. Plushenko finished second at the Russian national championships and didnt appear headed for Sochi at all. He was added to the Russian roster late last month after a trial run-through in front of federation officials convinced them he was the countrys best mens option. That decision paid off when he finished second in the team short program and first in the free skate, helping Russia to its first gold of the Sochi Games. In that final full practice Wednesday, he fell three times, but was laughing and joking with Mishin after two of the flops. Mishin even said Plushenko was "ready" for the mens event. That changed Thursday, and when Plushenko limped out of the arena, the cheers turned to mild applause from the stunned audience. "Some people say we had this plan from the very beginning, but we did not," he said. "We were going to go to the end. If I really wished to withdraw after the tem event, I would have." .Shipulin pulled away from Martin Fourcade of France, Simon Eder of Austria and Fredrik Lindstrom of Sweden to finish in 35 minutes 16.8 seconds. Fourcade was 1.2 seconds back in second place to reclaim the overall World Cup lead, with Eder another 0. . Los Angeles announced its new deal for Kupchak late in the fourth quarter of a 145-130 loss to the Houston Rockets. Kupchak had one year left on his current contract.
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