Russian figure skater and four-time medalist Evgeny Plushenko has been confirmed as Russia's entrant in the individual figure skating event at the Sochi Games, his coach Alexander Gorshkov said Monday.

On Sunday, the 31-year-old skater won his second Olympic gold medal in the team event.

After having won the free program, he insisted he would recover by the time of individual skating competition despite admitting to having had back pains.

"Plushenko really felt slight pain in his spine during the free program, but he has time to recover. I hope the doctors will fix everything," Alexander Gorshkov told reporters.

The men's short program is scheduled for Thursday and the free program for Friday.

Earlier Plushenko suggested he might withdraw after the team event to give the rising competitors a chance to win a medal. This is believed to be a hint on 18-year-old Maxim Kovtun.

Kovtun defeated Plushenko at the Russian nationals in December.

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