EVAN LYSACEK

Figure Skating – Singles 2006 Olympian 2010 Olympic hopeful

Personal Specs Height: 6’2” Date of birth: June 4, 1985 Hometown: Naperville, IL. Residence: , Calif. Coach: Frank Carroll

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)

Vancouver Watch In March, Lysacek became the first American man since in 1996 to win a World Championship, propelling him into favorite status for Vancouver. The challengers are many, beginning with 2006 Olympic gold medalist , 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 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.

Did You Know…? • Prized possessions are his truck and an orthodox cross • Has always wanted to be a lead singer in a rock band • Favorite musicians include Cold War Kids, The Hives, Jay-Z and Kasabian • Acted as a Russian Olympic figure skating champion in 2006 independent short film “Skate Great!”