On a magical evening in Los Angeles last March the stars were finally aligned for America’s Evan Lysacek.
It had been a troublesome journey all season, but as he climbed to the top step of the World podium, all the disappointments and doubts faded in the glory of his golden moment.

Elation and pride were written all over his face as the gold medal was placed around his neck. Claiming his first World title was a culminating point of a lifetime of dedication to the sport he loves so much.
 
INAUSPICIOUS BEGINNING

Lysacek went to the World Championships without having won a single event the entire season.
He skated into third place at his two Grand Prix assignments, Skate America and Skate Canada, but failed to make the cut for the Grand Prix Final.

The International Skating Union (ISU) technical specialists came down hard on cheated jumps, incomplete spins and any other element not executed according to the rules last season. Lysacek discovered he was not exempt from their watchful eyes.

“I was disappointed with the downgrades and deductions I received at my two Grand Prix events, but they were back-to-back so I sort of just had to accept that,” Lysacek said. “I was a little discouraged after those first two competitions just because I felt like I was really ready and I skated well. To have those types of technical errors, that I did not really expect, was disappointing.”

He questioned whether defending his national title at the 2009 U.S. Championships in January was a good idea. “My coach, Frank Carroll, and I had made some changes to my jumps and spins after the Grand Prix events and I was still growing into them,” Lysacek said. “I asked myself, ‘What am I going to do, not go to nationals?’ “I decided to go, do the best I could and hope it would be good enough to win a medal and make the World team. Thankfully it was.” Lysacek claimed the bronze medal and made the team. Less than two weeks later, he claimed silver at Four Continents behind Canada’s Patrick Chan. “Four Continents was actually a good experience for me. It was my first big step in the right direction all season,” Lysacek said. “I loved Vancouver, and skating in the Olympic venue was so motivating.”

FOR MORE, CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR DIGITAL OR PRINT EDITION