The return to eligible competition by Evgeni Plushenko has dominated the run-up to the Olympics and the 2006 gold medallist demolished the fields he faced at Rostelecom Cup and the European Championships as if he had never been away. The Russian has been the subject of criticism in the media after admitting that he did not have any transitional moves in his programmes and there is a sense things may not be as easy as they were in 2006 for Plushenko.
After retiring in 2008, Stephane Lambiel is also back to try for another shot at glory. The two-time World Champion had to qualify at the Nebelhorn Trophy to secure his spot at the Olympics and he showed some flashes of brilliance when he won silver in Tallinn last month. However, due to the lack of a triple axel in his arsenal, the Swiss will need to be foot perfect to climb onto the podium again. 
Jeffrey Buttle, the bronze medallist at the 2006 Olympics, retired after winning the World Championships in 2008, but Plushenko and Lambiel will face a whole host of rivals from North America and Japan. Apart from a meltdown in the SP at the last Olympics, Evan Lysacek has been a model of consistency in the interim and he goes into Vancouver as the reigning World Champion. He has also won the Grand Prix Final this season.
Lysacek has been defeated at U.S. Nationals these past two years by Jeremy Abbott who has a reliable quadruple toeloop and skates programmes jampacked with transitions. Abbott made the move last season to train under Yuka Sato, the Ladies World Champion in 1994. 
After sitting out all last season due to an injury to his right knee, Daisuke Takahashi has been slowly regaining the momentum that propelled him to the silver medal at the 2007 World Championships. He also won his fourth National title beating rival Nobunari Oda. Oda won both of his Grand Prix assignments and won silver at the Grand Prix Final. This will be his first trip to the Olympics after missing out in 2006. 
Brian Joubert has had a disappointing season so far and sustained an injury to his foot in December. He could only finish a distant third at the European Championships.
Canada's best hope lies with Patrick Chan, but an injury forced him to pull out of Rostelecom Cup and he finished a dismal sixth place at Skate Canada this season. Chan parted ways with Don Laws in January and is now coached by Lori Nichol and Christy Krall. 
Men Short Programme:
16:15 (Pacific Standard Time), 16 February 2010
Men Free Skating:
17:00 (PST), 18 February 2010
http://www.vancouver2010.com/olympic-figure-skating/schedule-and-results/men-short-program_fsm010201uH.html
