Evan Lysacek
Figure Skating - Singles
2006 Olympian
2010 Olympic hopeful
Personal Specs
Height: 6'2"
Date of birth: June 4, 1985
Coach: Frank Carroll
Choreographer: Lori Nichol, Tatiana Tarasova
Club: DuPage FSC
Short List Performance
- 2006 Olympic Winter Games - fourth
- 2009 World Champion
- Two-time World Championships bronze medalist (2005, 2006)
- Two-time U.S. Champion (2007, 2008)
- Ranked No. 2 in the ISU World Standings as of May 2009
Vancouver Watch
In March, Lysacek became the first American man since Todd Eldredge in 1996 to win a World Championship, propelling him into favorite status for Vancouver. The challengers are many, beginning with 2006 Olympic gold medalist Evgeni Plushenko, who is attempting a comeback. Given his international experience and success, Lysacek could very well grab his first Olympic medal.
Personal
Lysacek began skating at age 8 after his grandmother bought him skates for Christmas. He started out playing hockey, but switched to figure skating where he found more success. Lysacek owns national titles in the juvenile, novice, junior and senior divisions. At the 2006 Winter Games, he came down with a stomach flu following a 10th-place finish in the short program but, in a gutty effort, returned to perform the third-best free skate to move up to fourth overall. He was an honor roll student at Neuqua Valley High School. One of his two younger sisters played volleyball for Charleston Southern. His charitable work includes participation in "Target - A Time For Heroes," a celebrity event for the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, and he supports the Dana Farber Cancer Research Institute, Make-A-Wish Foundation and Special Olympics. His hobbies include cars and charity work. Lysacek has one older sister and one younger sister.
Did You Know...?
- Is a member of the celebrity board at Ronald McDonald House Charities and supports Figure Skating in Harlem
- Prized possessions are his orthodox cross, AT&T Blackberry and World Championship gold medal
- Has always wanted to be a lead singer in a rock band
- Favorite musicians include Jay-Z, the Virgins, LCD Soundsystem and the Strokes
- Acted as a Russian Olympic figure skating champion in 2006 independent short film "Skate Great!"
More about Evan: Overcame left hip stress in the latter half of 2004 ... Graduated from Neuqua Valley High School in 2003 ... Member of his high school senior prom court ... Earned a number of academic achievement awards including the 1999 Presidential Award for Academic Excellence ... Member of the Honor Roll throughout high school ... He has two sisters, the younger of which plays on a nationally ranked volleyball club and is on full scholarship to Charleston Southern University ... Serves on the board for the Figure Skating in Harlem Organization ... Lysacek has participated in "Target - A Time For Heroes," a celebrity charity event for the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation ... Also supports the Dana Farber Cancer Research Institute (Jimmy Fund), Make-A-Wish Foundation and Special Olympics ... Hobbies include cars and charity work ... Has a passion for charity work ... Says he's "really chill," and he "keeps it real" ... He would be on "Dancing with the Stars" because "seeing how much fun the stars have learning something new has inspired me" ... Biggest life-defining moment has been working with children with life-threatening diseases ... Would like to go attend an university after his skating career ... Besides Christmas, favorite holiday is Earth Day "because planet Earth rocks."
Favorite TV shows: Entourage, Nip/Tuck, Weeds
Favorite movies: Kill Bill Vols. 1 and 2, Pulp Fiction
Favorite charities: Figure Skating in Harlem, Special Olympics, Make-A-Wish Foundation, Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric HIV Foundation, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, P.S. Arts Foundation
Favorite celebrities: Chelsea Handler, Sienna Miller, Michael Jordan, Carmen Electra, Robert Downey Jr., Pao Gasol, Ashton Kutcher, Elvis
Favorite book: The Creative Habit
Favorite web site: www.nbcolympics.com
Favorite food: Sushi
Favorite drinks: Coke
2008 Season Notes
- SP Music: "Bolero" by Ravel
- FS Music: "Rhapsody in Blue" by George Gershwin
- Placed 3rd at the AT&T U.S. Figure Skating Championships
- Became the first American in 13 years to win the World Figure Skating Championship
- Captained the U.S. Team that won gold at the inaugural ISU Team Trophy
2007 Season Notes
- Competed as a senior both nationally and internationally
- SP music: TBD
- FS music: TBD
- Costume designers are Christian Dior (SP) and Gianfranco Ferre (FS)
- Goal was to improve his personal best
2006 Season Notes
- SP Music: "Passion" from "The Last Temptation of Christ" by Peter Gabriel
- FS Music: "Carmen Suite" by Bizet and "Carmen" by Rodion Schedrin
- Win at Cup of China was his first Grand Prix title
- Named the November USOC Male Athlete of the Month
- Injured his hip during practice while at the Grand Prix Final in St. Petersburg and had to withdraw
2005 Season Notes
- SP Music: Gipsy Kings for first part of season; used "Espana Cani" for Olympics and Worlds
- FS Music: From the original soundtrack to "Grease," new arrangement by Paul Rudolph - changed to "Carmen" before NHK Trophy, and used Carmen for U.S. Championships, Olympics and Worlds
- Qualified for the Grand Prix Final but withdrew due to injury
- Finished second at the U.S. Championships
- After a disastrous short program at the Olympics, he came back to finish third in the free skate and fourth overall - despite suffering from a severe illness
- Did the same thing at Worlds and won his second World bronze medal
2004 Season Notes
- SP music: "Espana Cani"
- FS music: "Singin' in the Rain"
- Had his best season ever, winning the Four Continents title and finishing third at both the U.S. Championships and World Championships
- Won the season-ending Marshalls U.S. Figure Skating Challenge
2003 Season Notes
- SP music: "Espana Cani " by Pascual Marquina
- FS music: "Second Piano Concerto" by Rachmaninov
- Lysacek had a great start to the 2003-04 season, winning gold medals at JGP Japan and JGP Croatia
- He qualified for his second straight JGP Final and won gold in December