LYON, France — Weakened by the flu and short of breath, Evgeni Plushenko captured his fifth title at the European Figure Skating Championships on Saturday.
His victory gave the Russians all four titles for the third time in four years. They also did it from 1997-99, and will now look to do so at next month's Turin Olympics.
"It was very difficult to skate the program because I'm still not healthy," Plushenko said. "After the third minute I couldn't breathe. I was gulping for air, like a fish out of water."
The competition ended with Russians winning six of the 12 medals. Last year, Plushenko was the only Russian not to repeat at the world championships, dropping out with a groin injury.
World champion Stephane Lambiel of Switzerland was second Saturday and Brian Joubert of France, who upset Plushenko at the 2004 Europeans, was third.
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Plushenko opened with a quadruple jump and added seven more triples in his routine to "The Godfather." His jumps were huge at the start. He did two triple axels, including one in combination with a triple toe loop and a double loop.
He tired near the end of his routine, doubling a salchow and slowing on his spins. As soon as he finished, he went flat on his back on the ice to rest.
"I almost didn't come," he said. "But this is the final preparation before the Olympic Games."
Plushenko scored 245.33 points, with Lambiel at 228.87 and Joubert at 222.95.
"Plushenko was the best today," Lambiel said. "Against him I can't make any errors."
Lambiel, in a routine to Vivaldi's "Four Seasons" had to step out of a triple jump and put a hand down on a second quad. He also stumbled twice in his footwork.
"I was very relaxed in my program and I didn't concentrate enough," he said.
Joubert missed his triple axel twice. He landed a quad but slipped right after it.
"I did a stupid mistake on the quad," Joubert said.
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