Evan Lysacek crowned 2010 Olympic Champion
When Evan Lysacek arrived at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, Canada, last week, he wrote a message to himself on a note card and taped it to the wall. It read: “Mind your own business.”
His stock went up Thursday when he skated the best performance of his career to win the Olympic gold medal, ending an 18-year reign of Soviet and Russian skaters in men’s figure skating. Russian Evgeni Plushenko, the 2006 Olympic Champion, finished 1.31 points out of first-place despite winning the short program.
“I couldn’t have asked for much more than that,” he said. “To get a personal best in the most important moment of my life – you dream about it.”
Lysacek also won the 2009 World Championship in March.
“Worlds rejuvenated my love for skating, but it also confirmed to me that the most important thing about figure skating is the daily training that goes on at home,” Lysacek said. “This year I’ve worked harder than I ever have before to prepare for this competition. The whole season has been building toward this and waiting for that clean skate the whole season, and to get it in most important moment is pretty special.”
Daisuke Takahashi of Japan won the bronze medal with a score of 247.23. Three-time U.S. Champion Johnny Weir finished sixth, one slot lower than 2006, with a score of 238.87. Two-time U.S. Champion Jeremy Abbott, who was 15th after the short program, jumped to ninth place with a final score of 218.96.
“I made myself proud,” said Weir, who had his free skate score greeted by boos from the crowd at Pacific Coliseum. “I came back and skated again this season for all the right reasons. Maybe I didn’t win a medal at the Olympics, but I gave a darn good performance.”
Lysacek is the first American to win the men’s gold since Brian Boitano won at the Calgary 1988 Olympic Winter Games. He also becomes the first reigning World Champion to win the Olympic gold medal since American Scott Hamilton did it back in 1984.
“To be mentioned in the same sentence as people I’ve idolized like Scott and Brian is amazing,” the Napeville, Ill., native said. He is the 13th skater from the United States to be crowned an Olympic Champion, with the last being Sarah Hughes’ victory at the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City.
“It was a tough day,” said Lysacek, who is the first Olympic gold medalist for Hall of Fame coach Frank Carroll. “I wasn’t sure how I would feel when I got here. My coach was by my side the whole day telling me what to think. I was nervous, but about two hours before the competition, I thought, ‘What am I nervous for? I just have to do what I’ve done every day.’”
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Photo courtesy of Leah Adams
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Evan totally deserved everything he won. Plushenko was cocky and his landings were rough. His artistry was also lacking. Lysacek was a joy to watch and earned his gold medal well.
Evan was the better skater tonight. He executed his jumps more beautifully and far out-performed Yevgeny Plushenko. Plushenko’s quad was great, but in every other way, Lysacek was better. It was a great skate and he well deserves his gold medal.
Yevgeny Plushenko – THE BEST!
Lysacek absolutely deserved gold. Plushenko was arrogant and NOT the better skater on the free skake. Well deserved. Weir’s score in the free seemed a bit lower than I felt he deserved, but he handled it professionally and appeared happy. Very exciting this Olympic!
Tanya and Xenia I completely disagree with you. Put aside your Russian pride and give credit where it’s due. I’m Russian and have rooted strongly for Plushenko at Torino olympics, but Evan completely outperformed Plushenko this time. A quad should not guarantee a gold medal. This sport is not just about jumps but also artistry, which Evan had a lot of. Evan’s short and long programs were beautiful technically and artistically. Plushenko’s program score was higher than it should have been. I also like that Evan was humble and respectful towards Plushenko where Evgeny was not. I have great respect for Evgeny but would like to see him less cocky and arrogant. Evan ABSOLUTELY deserves the gold medal! Who’s with me?
Evan absolutely deserved gold. I agree with everything Natasha said. Evgeny was a sore loser and Evan was a very gracious winner. A quad isn’t everything. Evan had a much more graceful, technical program. And MUCH better sportsmanship. I was horrified when Evgeny climbed onto the top of the podium. He was up there once – let someone else have a chance!
I’m with you Natasha. Obviously the others were not watching the same Olympics we were. Evan performed a near flawless program. He landed his jumps without bobbling His program was packed with elegance, poise, grace, feeling, and by the time he finished last night I knew that for anyone to beat him, they would have to have a complete miracle on their side.
Evan and Evgenii both gave a good perfomance, but Evan did it with a little bit more grace, I think, so yeah, his gold medal is deserved. What troubles me, is Weir’s score – so low. So many were surprised by final 6 place that it’s hard to dismiss a feeling of an unfair judgement.
Way to go Evan! Well desired & long awaited. Evan skated with his whole heart & it showed. Evgeni just didn’t have the passion as he has previously had. It seemed more like it was just a job & he was going to get it done. Don’t get me wrong he is a fabulous skater & I love to watch him, but his program just did not do his skating ability justice. He got the gold in 2006 & yes I felt he deserved it then & I really wanted him to get it. This time around I was disappointed the program just didn’t have that pazazz. Congratulations to both & keep amazing us with your skating.
I’d hate to judge between Lysachek and Plushenko. VERY close call for a few outstanding reasons most know. Congrats to Evan, nonetheless. One truth stands out: Weir was slamdunked – should have gotten bronze or 4th, probably bronze in this objective writer’s opinion. No one should be on an Olympics podium who falls (short) unless . . . Felt bad for Lambiel; he’s much much better than he looked – until those wondrous spins; he and Weir are artistes on ice! Some crackerjack up and comers!
I am with Jenny who is troubled by the low score for Weir! Hey, judges, who you think you are? Give Johnny a medal!!!
Johnny! Don’t leave skating!!! So many people love you!!! I don’t care if Pluschenko goes or Lysacek goes, but not you!
Lysacek was OUTSTANDING. I liked the phoenix/serpent thing he had going with his short program and free skate, respectively. Plushenko’s was also great, but the huge smirk on his face and upturned nose somewhat dimmed my enjoyment of his performance. But Lysacek wanted it, and totally went for it which was enjoyable to watch. He looked just like a little kid when they announced Plushenko’s scores and he won gold. USA! USA!
Evan executed his jumps nearly perfect in all cases; his spins were incredible to watch. He had the whole package together and skated with beauty. He showed himself to be not only Olympic champion, but also a man of style and class both on and off the ice.
Plushenko is an arrogant, sore loser. He DID NOT skate his best in the free skate and that is why he lost. Had he executed his program the way he is capable of, he would have won. HIs post competition comments about Evan are disgraceful and I am sorry he even won silver with that attitude.
I am totally with Natasha on this one. I think a look at the ISU protocol is enough to refute the disillusioned claims that Plushenko was “robbed”. And all the other claims as well. Evan deserved it and what’s done is done. There’s no point in disputing it any longer, let’s just be happy for everyone who made it to the Olympics.
Wow….never realized what CRY BABIES the RUSSIANS are.
EVAN WAS the BEST. His performance both OFF and ON the ice have been that of a TRUE CHAMPION.
EVAN displays a quality of class and grace that PLUSHENKO can not even
fathom.
If ANYONE was robbed of any medal standing, it was Daisuke Takahashi of Japan, who won the bronze medal….Diasuke should have gotten the SILVER and PLUCHENKO, “maybe” the bronze…..but you don’t hear the Japanese crying over it.
Evan totally deserved to win. I dont care what anyone says. Even though he didn’t have a quad his landings were better as well as his artistry. So what if Plushenko landed his stupid quad? Evan’s talent far exceeds Plushenko’s.
A complete program is not just about the jumps- its about all the other elements that make of the program. Not only did Plushenko not land the jumps as well as we could have, but the quality and difficulty of the other other elements of his program were inferior to Lysacek’s. One point I haven’t heard discussed much was the fact that the same jump executed later in the program is more difficult than it is earlier in the program- by putting more jumps later instead of doing all of them early, Lysacek again proved himself to be a better all-around athlete (and earned points that Plushenko left on the ice). As much as I admire his skating, though, I admire Evan Lysacek as much or even more for his attitude. He worked his butt off in training, put in a great skate, won the gold, and has responded with nothing but poise, maturity, and and grace to the Plushenko’s bad sportsmanship and trash-talking. Plushenko is a good example of how you can win gold, as he did in Torino, but still not understand what it truly means to be an Olympian and a champion. Lysacek is an embodiment of the true spirit of the games and a role model for future competitors to look up to.
Sounds like there are more babies than Plushenko. Need tissues??
What a poor sport Plushenko was and look at the controversy he has started. Shame on him for not respecting the judges scores. No one said anything when Victor Petrenko got the gold over the better skater, Paul Wylie in the 1992 Olympics…….back then the scoring was more subjective and inequitable and Russians were “supposed to win”. The ratings system was created to take away the subjectiveness of the judging and actually, in spite of the Russian whining, since the time that the new judging system took effect there has been very little complaint about the fairness of the new system. Plushenko is an old school boy who wants to win because he did a quad. BIG DEAL! Pay attention to the fact that both skaters received the exact same score on the artistry in their programs. The score was identical. Where Evan won was on points for his jumps and technical skill. It is meticulously broken down jump by jump. How wonderful Plushenko did a quad. GOOD FOR HIM! Thank goodness the judging system has progressed to the point that a single jump doesn’t get inequitably rewarded. I always admired Plushenko over the years. Now I haven’t got an ounce of respect for him. Should he be on TV skating again I will change the channel when he skates. What bad manners he has shown and shame on him for treating Evan this way. Unforgiveable. There has been no complaining about the new scoring system in general. The only thing Plushenko is robbed of is good grace and class.
folks, to look at the details of the scoring from the judges who DO KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING……..go to NBCOLYMPICS.COM and track down the skating scores on Evan and Plushenko…….you will see the identical artistry scores and see how the judges scored on the jumps. EVAN YOU DID AN AWESOME JOB! also, note that Evan placed first in the long program at the 2006 Olympics ahead of Plushenko then as well so the past two Olympics Evan has placed first in the long. Plushenko didn’t complain then……..because the short program put him ahead. Evan was sick the day of the short and ended up fourth at the 06 Olympics because of the short scores. He has shown himself as a consistent skater. I think coming in first in the long program two Olympics in a row shows his competence. This time since Evan was basically tied with Plushenko after the short he won, based on that strong consistent long program. Plushenko should grow up and go to charm school. how rude and unprofessional of him. And how graceful Evan has been to keep his dignity throughout this back biting by Plushenko. Evan, I hope you come back and beat his sad little butt in the next Olympics……..
I do believe Evan deserved his gold. Not because I’m American. But because this is the OLYMPICS. It’s a time when people from all over the world come together in PEACE to compete. It’s NOT so much about gold, silver and bronze. It’s about going out there and showing the world what you’ve got and representing the country you come from. Personally I cheer everyone on. Just to be out there…I mean who doesn’t fantasize about it? I’m sorry there are some people who view the Games as a chance to see who’s better…it’s just a shame, you’re missing out on the wonder of the sports and the miracles that happen. So put aside your harsh, judgmental nonsense. We’re all together on this blue marble and the Games are meant to bring us together, not tear us apart.
Evan TOTALLY deserved everything that he got. Plushenko messed up most of the landings on his jumps in the FS, and his artistry and difficulty level (for connecting steps) was lower than Evan’s. Lysacek’s skating was just beautiful, it was artistic, technically strong, and amazing to watch. This is a matter of opinion (so if you don’t agree, don’t be nasty) but Plushenko’s skating wasn’t as pretty. Sure, that quad was AMAZING, but the sport of figure skating isn’t “jumping” skating. It’s an art AND a sport. And i’m not saying this because I’m American. (heck, I was rooting for the underdogs as I was watching the olympics…and they weren’t American) Evan totally deserved his gold. Besides, Plushenko’s already won one, and he still placed (which was better than most of the other men’s skaters did).
Evan Lysacek is a class act.
Evan certainly deserved the gold medal for a great performance. However, I was stunned and bewildered by the low score that the judges gave Johnny Weir! Although not technically perfect, it was a stunning combination of artist and athlete. Weir displayed the beauty, grace, and artistry of figure skating in his performance and certainly deserved a medal.
Evan totaly deserved his gold medal. i’m not russian, not a fan of Plushenko, not a fan of Evan ether. Evan did a better job on thatb long program, his jumps was more clean, and he was more artistic than Plushenko who wasnt at his best. What i didnt like, is Plushenkos reaction to loosing, he was wery arrogant, and he is a poor sport. as a russian im very ashaimed of his behavior, and the behavior of russian fans. I do understand how mush Plushenko and his fans wanted this medal, but Evan was clearly the best in Vancuver and people should respect that, no mather how disapointed they are.
Well i really adore Russian figure skating school. Followed up every step of great competition between Plushenko and Yagudin and fully understand and value what enormous push it is given to development of mens’ figure skating as whole. Plushenko is legend, may be i am wrong but in these Olympics he was the oldest skater as well. Currently he was not doing professional sport for 3 years. he came back and got a silver. Quad is amazing (he is still doing that and can do even better and may be even 2 quads if needed)! And by the way Plushenko in his career had serious injuries as well (especially knee what is the most important to make jumps.) But sport is sport and competition is competition. Plushenko’s skate was not ideal, could see some hitches in Evan’s skate as well. But honestly common impression of Evan’s skate was better this time. As well in points difference was really little. Anyway even little difference is difference and, Evan, really enjoy your victory! In these Olympics You deserved it!
I don’t know what Lysacek is, but he is not figure skater. This is anti-figure skating, as well as Plushenko’s. The real robbery of this olympics is Weir missing the podium!
Evan absolutely deserved the Gold Medal. He did the powerful perfermance. I wish Johnny won a medal, too.
Evan totally deserved the gold. Daisuke did a good job too, but Plushenko!!!!!!!!!! He lands his jumps like a sledgehammer and was being a sore loser. And Johnny Weir was robbed!!!!! He was absolutely amazing and even though he slowed up on his spins he was better then plushenko. We love u johnny!!!!
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