Defying his aching left knee and advancing age, Evgeni Plushenko produced a career-best performance to win a seventh men's European figure skating title Saturday, adding another layer to his legend. Throwing in an unexpected quadruple jump to a compelling routine to “Tango de Roxanne” from the Moulin Rouge soundtrack, the 2006 Olympic champion scored a personal-best 176.52 points in the free skate to total 261.23 — his highest-ever overall mark. If Plushenko is the king, then Carolina Kostner is the queen. On a day to remember for a relative veteran of the women's competition, the 24-year-old Italian captured a fourth continental title in a six-year span by executing a flawless, if limited, free skate to build on her lead from Friday's short program. Kostner finished with 183.55 points, more than 16 clear of second-place Kiira Korpi of Finland.
