Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said...

"Please accept my heartfelt congratulations on your superb performance at the XXI Winter Olympic Games," the message said. "Your silver is worth gold."

Russia"s defending champion Evgeni Plushenko managed to secure only the Olympic silver medal in Thursday"s free skating event in Vancouver, beat out by the U.S."s Evan Lysacek who took the gold medal.

Japan"s Daisuke Takahashi will take home the bronze medal in the men"s figure skating event.

MOSCOW, February 19 (RIA Novosti)