Fans of Russian skater Evgeni Plushenko...

Plushenko"s coach, Alexei Mishin, will be awarded an alternative medal during a ceremony in Saint Petersburg on Sunday, Dmitry Ilkovsky said. The 27-year-old skater, who was reported unable to attend the ceremony, will receive his award later, he said.

The medals, intended to console the skater and his coach, are made of gold contributed by Plushenko"s fans.

Mishin"s medal made of 14k gold weights 0.5 kilograms (1.1 pounds) and is decorated with six diamonds.

Earlier, Ilkovsky said a medal to be awarded to Plushenko weighted 0.516 kilograms (1.137 pounds), the exact weight of an Olympic gold. However, there is only 0.006 kilograms (0.013 pounds) of gold in an Olympic gold medal, with the rest being siver. Plushenko"s medal was expected to comprise more gold or even fully consist of these metal.

Plushenko, who led Evan Lysacek of the United States by half a point after the short figure skating program in Vancouver, was beaten out by the American in the

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