Russian Yevgeny Plushenko returns to defend his Torino gold.

As this Olympic season approached, a theme began to appear: comebacks. From injury, from pregnancy, and most notably from retirement - four medalists from the 2006 Torino Games returned this year to pursue another Olympics. Vancouver would be the third Games for Sasha Cohen, Yevgeny Plushenko, and Stephane Lambiel, while Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo are seeking a fourth trip. The celebrated Chinese pair has won three world titles, but remains motivated by the opportunity to claim their country's first Olympic figure skating gold.

The presence of these veterans adds intrigue to what already promised to be a compelling figure skating competition in Vancouver. Below, a look at five key storylines to watch:

The King is back
The most intimidating return so far has been that of Plushenko. With his convincing win at Cup of Russia in late October, the 2006 Olympic gold medalist sent a clear message to the men who've been taking titles in his three-and-a-half year competitive absence: to win gold in Vancouver, you're going to have to get through this three-time world champion. With his reliable quadruple jumps and equally unwavering confidence, Plushenko is poised to make all kinds of history - he would be the first man to win two straight golds in more than half a century, the second man ever to win more than two Olympic medals, and the sixth straight Olympic gold medalist from Russia/the former Soviet Union. In Vancouver, Plushenko will have to fend off a deep field of challengers, six of whom have won world championship medals. That group includes two-time world champion Lambiel, 2007 world champion Brian Joubert, host country sensation Patrick Chan, and reigning world champ Evan Lysacek, who in 2009 ended a 13-year world title drought for the U.S. men. Daisuke Takahasi, the 2007 world silver medalist, sat out all of last season with a knee injury, but returns to lead a talented trio of former world junior champions from Japan. Joining Takahashi in Vancouver should be Takahiko Kozukaand Nobunari Oda, who quickly claimed two Grand Prix golds to start his Olympic season.

A new queen will be crowned
Since Shizuka Arakawa became the first Japanese woman to win Olympic gold in 2006, the axis of power in ladies figure skating has continued its shift toward Asia. And until the end of last season, the best rivalry going was between a couple of teenagers - Kim Yu-Naof South Korea and Mao Asadaof Japan. Both are megastars in their respective countries. Both are coached by skating legends: Kim by two-time Olympic silver medalist Brian Orser and Asada by Russian guru Tatyana Tarasova. And, born 20 days apart, both were too young for the Torino Games by a matter of months. They entered 2009 Worlds with their career head-to-head record nearly even: Asada led, five wins to four. But it was in Los Angeles that their paths began to diverge. Kim won her first world title decisively, while Asada, the defending champion, made mistakes and slipped off the podium. When they met again at this season's first Grand Prix event in Paris, Kim again won easily. She managed somehow to progress, adding an even more difficult triple-triple combination and performing even more engaging programs. Asada, meanwhile, struggled - especially with her trademark triple Axel. Queen Yu-Na, as she is known in South Korea, has emerged from the rivalry the clear favorite for Olympic gold, while Asada has been left to wonder what went wrong. If she can find a way to regroup, Asada may be the only skater with a chance to catch Kim in Vancouver. If she can't, she'll likely find herself off the podium.

U.S. star search
While Michelle Kwan and Sasha Cohencontemplated possible pursuit of the Vancouver Games (Kwan ultimately opted for grad school instead), U.S. figure skating searched for its next famous face. New talent has emerged - including Rachael Flatt, who finished an encouraging fifth at 2009 Worlds- but the American women haven't won a world medal in three years and for now, at least, occupy a level below the sport's top tier. The U.S. only qualified two skaters to the 2010 Games and it's possible neither of those skaters will win a medal. That would bring to an end an impressive streak. The last time an Olympic ladies podium was without an American was in 1964 - and that was after a devastating plane crash took the lives of the entire U.S. team on the way to the 1961 World Championships. There is much yet to be determined, of course, including the quality of Cohen's comeback, whether Mirai Nagasu, under the guidance of Frank Carroll (Kwan's longtime coach and Lysacek's current one), can regain the form and fun that won her the 2008 U.S. title, and how far Ashley Wagner'simpressive improvements can take her. And while the Americans may head to Vancouver without an established star, it's worth remembering that in 2002, it was the relatively unheralded Sarah Hughes - just the third-ranked skater on her own team - who skated away with a surprise gold medal.

Canada's contenders
At each of the last two World Championships, Canada has won three medals - more than any other country - and the host nation, long known for Olympic near misses, could claim that many again in Vancouver. Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir are the surest medal bet and could become the first ice dancers from their country to win Olympic gold. Canada's singles skaters are coming off a stellar 2008-09 season. Joannie Rochette and Patrick Chanwon two Grand Prix titles and a world silver medal each, proving their place among the world's best. If Rochette can handle her nerves and skate up to her considerable ability, she should land on the podium in Vancouver. Chan's upside may be even greater, but the teenager's Olympic fate likely rests on the security of his jumps. 2008 world bronze medalists Jessica Dube and Bryce Davison have the potential to return Canada to the pairs podium, but after a sub-par 2008-09, they're stuck a rung below the world's top teams.

French redemption
Some called Brian Joubertbrash when, as a teenager, he began declaring his goal: to be Olympic champion. Now 25, the Frenchman has won a world title, three world silvers, a world bronze, and eight straight medals (including three gold) at the European Championships. But in two appearances, Joubert has yet to reach any step of the Olympic podium. A third chance will come in Vancouver, but he will have to rely on the quad to keep pace with more artistic skaters better suited to the current scoring system. Like Joubert, French ice dancers Isabelle Delobel and Olivier Schoenfelderhave been to two Olympics and left both empty-handed. The 2008 world champions, who have been skating together for two decades, finished a frustrating fourth in Torino and are now scrambling to be ready for Vancouver. Delobel's shoulder surgery cut short their 2008-09 season and her pregnancy resulted in a delayed start to 2009-10. If they're able to return to form, the French veterans will have to disrupt the world order to claim a podium spot. Three tough teams stand in their path: the surging Canadians Virtue and Moir on home ice, the world champion Russians - Oksana Domninaand Maksim Shabalin - with Olympic history on their side, and Americans Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto, the only returning ice dance medalists from Torino.