Legendary Russian figure skater Evgeni Plushenko wants to give fans an inside look at his recovery from the spine injury that forced him out of the 2014 Winter Olympics early — a very, very inside look.
Plushenko told Russian media members Monday that he plans to show his upcoming spinal surgery to the world as it happens via “some kind of live broadcast.”
“I think everybody already knows that the surgery will take place on March 2, and the broken bolt from an intervertebral disc will be taken out,” Plushenko said, according to Russian news agency ITAR_TASS. “Many people will see it, because I want to show them how it happens.”
Watching a live surgery might not be very appealing to the average viewer, but given the rock-star status Plushenko enjoys in his home nation, this particular operation likely would draw serious ratings.
The four-time Olympic medalist and three-time world champion was forced to pull out of the Sochi Games earlier this month after helping lead Russia to gold in the inaugural team event. The injury prevented Plushenko from finishing the men’s event, in which he had medaled at every Olympics since 2002, but when discussing it Monday, he called the ailment a blessing in disguise.
“Good thing it ended this way,” Plushenko said, “because I could have been left paralyzed.”
