Russian figure skater Evgeny Pluschenko has taken the lead in the men’s singles at the European championship in Tallinn, Estonia, scoring an impressive 91.30 points in the short program.

The result means he has surpassed his own world record set at the 2006 Turin Winter Olympic Games, which was 90.66 points.

Pluschenko’s best domestic result is even higher as judges awarded him 100.09 points at Russia’s Figure Skating Championships in St. Petersburg in December.

Whoever takes the gold will be decided in the Free Skating on Thursday, January 20.

The 27-year-old had retired from sports after claiming the Olympic gold in 2006, but he’s now making a very successful comeback and is among the main contenders for the podium in Vancouver.