Takahashi took more time out in 2011 when he had to have the bolt from that knee surgery removed, but he recovered the following year to win his first Grand Prix Final -- which was held in Sochi, the Russian resort city that will host next year's Winter Olympics.
The Black Sea resort city of Sochi will host the Winter Olympic Games and the reinstated Russian Grand Prix in 2014, and Russia will host the FIFA World Cup in 2018, with many hotel chains around the country investing in anticipation.