Russia clinches Olympic team event in Sochi
SOCHI, Russia (AP) — Russia won its first gold medal of the Sochi Olympics on Sunday night by taking the new event of team figure skating in a rout.
The hosts earned 75 points to 65 for Canada and 60 for the United States, which won the free dance portion of the event with world champion ice dancers Meryl Davis and Charlie White of Michigan.
Russia clinched its first Olympic title in the sport since 2006 when 15-year-old Julia Lipnitskaia won the women's free skate.
Earlier, Evgeni Plushenko was first in the men's long program. The 31-year-old veteran now has medals in four Olympics, a modern-era record for a figure skater.
Russian President Vladimir Putin was on hand to see his countrymen take the gold.
