Plushenko, who also won a silver medal at the Salt Lake City Olympics in 2002, accepted the honour of becoming a Sochi 2014 Ambassador from Dmitry Chernyshenko, the President and chief executive, at a ceremony inside the iconic Sochi World in Vancouver.

The announcement was made the day after Plushenko announced he had abandoned plans to retire following his disappointment at being beaten by American Evan Lysacek here.

Plushenko said: "I would like to compete.

"I would like to skate in 2014 in Sochi.

"I'm gonna try.

"I'm really gonna try."

Chernyshenko said: "Yevgeny Plushenko is an icon for millions of people.

"His will to succeed and dedication is a real example for young athletes hoping to follow in his footsteps.

"Some of those stars of the future will represent Russia at Sochi 2014.

"We are proud that he has joined us. 

"Yevgeny adds a lot to our team and we are stronger for it."

He joins a team of ambassadors that includes ice hockey players Sergey Fedrov and Alexander Ovechkin, gymnast Svetlana Khorkina, Eurovision Song Contest winning singer Dima Bilan, renowned musician and conductor Yuri Bashmet and supermodel Natalia Vodianova.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


Related stories
February 2010: Plushenko promises to carry on until Sochi 2014
February 2010: Putin tells Plushenko that he is worth gold as Russian anger grows