Why Russian figure skater Evgeni Plushenko is worth watching

Evgeni Plushenko is easily the most entertaining athlete at these Winter Olympics, if not all Winter Olympics. On Sunday, the figure skater helped Russia claim their first gold medal of the Sochi Games in the team event, and he did it in traditional Plushenko style by skating to a medley known as "The Best of Plushenko". Someone actually took time out of their life to write Plushenko his own song, and then he skated to it. He is the best/worst.

With the victory, his four career medals tied Gillis Grafstrom of Sweden's Olympic record for skaters. The 31-year-old Russian star also won men's singles gold at the 2006 Olympics in Turin, and two silvers from Salt Lake City (2002) and Vancouver (2010). He has three world titles to his name, winning in 2001, 2003, and 2004. 

These Olympics in his home country were meant to be sort of a swan song. But he might not be not done with Sochi just yet: Plushenko is expected to compete in the men's event on Thursday. The deadline has passed to switch up the selections, and the Russians did not add Maxim Kovtun. His coach also originally said this, which is great.

It is really important that he does take part in the men's competition, if only for our own personal interests. A bit of background: In 2010, American skater Evan Lysacek won the gold medal in Vancouver. Plushenko thought he deserved gold, and made no secret of his feelings.

"I think we need to change the judging system -- a quad is a quad. If an Olympic champion doesn't do a quad, well I don't know...," he told reporters four years ago.

"Now it's not men's figure skating, it's dancing."

At the Vancouver medal ceremony, Plushenko made a point of stepping on the top spot of the podium before jumping down to the silver position. He also took off his medal not long after it was awarded to him. Maybe it is because he knew another medal was coming: The platinum medal. Yes, on Plushenko's website after the loss, his accomplishments listed: "Silver of Salt Lake, Gold of Torino, Platinum of Vancouver." He awarded himself a fake medal. A Russian TV show also gave him a platinum medal. Putin famously said, "Your silver is worth gold." Even when he loses, Plushenko never really loses.

And, whether or not he skates on Thursday, it doesn't look like we have seen the last of him: Plushenko hinted that he will be back for Pyeongchang, South Korea in 2018.

"First I have to rest and talk to the doctors, perhaps implant some more stuff into my back," he said.

We can only hope.