Evan Lysacek facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Evan Lysacek |
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Lysacek at the 2009 World Championships
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| Personal information | |
| Full name | Evan Frank Lysacek |
| Country represented |  United States |
| Born | June 4, 1985 Chicago, Illinois |
| Home town | Los Angeles, California |
| Height | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) |
| Began skating | 1994 |
Evan Frank Lysacek (born June 4, 1985) is a retired American figure skater who became a champion on the world's biggest stages. He is best known for winning the gold medal at the 2010 Winter Olympics. He was also the 2009 World champion and a two-time U.S. national champion.
Lysacek's amazing achievements earned him many awards. In 2010, he was named the U.S. Olympic Committee's SportsMan of the Year. He also won the James E. Sullivan Award as the top amateur athlete in the United States. In 2016, his incredible career was honored with a spot in the U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame.
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Personal Life
Evan Lysacek was born in Chicago, Illinois, and grew up in the nearby town of Naperville. His mom, Tanya, is a teacher, and his dad, Don, is a building contractor. He has two sisters, one older and one younger.
Even while training hard as a skater, Lysacek focused on his education. He was on the honor roll in high school and won several academic awards. After graduating in 2003, he moved to Los Angeles to train with some of the best coaches in the world.
Lysacek has Czech and Italian roots. He is a Greek Orthodox Christian and has said his cross necklace is one of his most important possessions.
After his skating career, Lysacek explored the business world, working in real estate and for the famous fashion designer Vera Wang, who had designed some of his skating costumes. In 2019, he married Duangpatra Bodiratnangkura in Bangkok, Thailand.
Skating Career
How It All Began
Lysacek started skating when he was eight years old. His grandmother, who had always dreamed of being in the Ice Capades show, bought him a pair of skates for Christmas. At first, he wanted to play ice hockey, so his mom signed him and his sister up for figure skating lessons to learn the basics. He quickly fell in love with the sport.
Only a few years later, in 1996, Lysacek won a U.S. national title at the juvenile level, which is the first step in competitive skating. He continued to climb the ranks, winning the U.S. Novice title in 1999 and the U.S. Junior title in 2000. He was the first male skater since 1975 to win both the novice and junior titles back-to-back.
Junior Champion
As a junior skater, Lysacek competed all over the world. He won several medals on the ISU Junior Grand Prix circuit, which is a series of international competitions for young skaters. He also won three silver medals at the World Junior Championships in 2001, 2003, and 2004.
In 2003, he made a big decision to move to California to train with legendary coach Frank Carroll. This change helped him win the Junior Grand Prix Final, making him the top junior skater in the world that season.
Climbing to the Top
In the 2004–2005 season, Lysacek moved up to the senior level to compete against the best skaters in the world. In his very first World Championships, he surprised everyone by winning the bronze medal. He won another bronze medal at the Worlds in 2006.
In 2006, he achieved a major goal by competing in the 2006 Winter Olympics. Despite getting sick with the flu, he skated a fantastic free skate program and finished in fourth place.
The next year, Lysacek became the U.S. National Champion for the first time. He won the title again in 2008. During these years, he was known for his powerful jumps, including the difficult quadruple toe loop, and his dramatic performances.
World and Olympic Champion
The 2008–2009 season was a huge one for Lysacek. At the 2009 World Championships in Los Angeles, he skated two amazing programs. He won the free skate and became the World Champion, the first American man to do so since 1996.
This victory set the stage for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. At the Olympics, Lysacek was in second place after the short program. For his free skate, he performed a flawless and artistic program set to the music of Scheherazade. He landed all of his jumps and skated with great passion. His performance earned him the highest score, and he won the Olympic gold medal. He became the first American man in 22 years to win the Olympic title.
Life After Competition
After his Olympic victory, Lysacek did not compete in the 2010 World Championships. He took a break from competitive skating but continued to perform in ice shows. He dealt with several injuries that made it difficult to return to competition.
Although he hoped to compete at the 2014 Olympics, an injury forced him to withdraw. In 2016, his amazing career was celebrated when he was inducted into the U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame.
Dancing with the Stars
In 2010, just after winning his Olympic gold medal, Lysacek competed on the TV show Dancing with the Stars. He was paired with professional dancer Anna Trebunskaya.
Fans loved watching him trade his skates for dancing shoes. He proved to be a talented dancer, receiving high scores from the judges week after week. He and his partner made it all the way to the finals and finished in second place.
Famous Programs
Figure skaters are known for the music and stories they bring to the ice. Lysacek worked with famous choreographers like Lori Nichol and Tatiana Tarasova to create memorable programs.
- Carmen (2005–2007): This powerful and dramatic program helped him win many medals early in his senior career.
- Tosca (2007–2008): A classic opera program that showed off his artistic side.
- An American in Paris (2008–2009): A fun and energetic program that he used during his World Championship season.
- Scheherazade (2009–2010): His Olympic-winning free skate program, known for its beauty and difficulty.
- The Firebird (2009–2010): His powerful short program from the Olympic season.
Images for kids
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Lysacek with his coach, Frank Carroll, at the 2007 Grand Prix Final.
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The winners' podium at the 2008 Skate America.
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Lysacek on top of the podium at the 2009 World Championships.
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The winners' podium at the 2009–10 Grand Prix Final.
See also
In Spanish: Evan Lysacek para niños
