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Evan Frank LysacekAmerican figure skater
Date of Birth: 04.06.1985
Country:  USA |
Content:
- Biography of Evan Frank Lysacek
- Junior Career and International Success
- Transition to Senior Level
- Senior Career and Olympic Success
Biography of Evan Frank Lysacek
Early Life and Career BeginningsEvan Frank Lysacek is an American figure skater. He was born in Chicago, Illinois and raised in Naperville. His mother, Tanya Lysacek (Santoro), was a substitute teacher in Naperville, and his father, Don, worked in construction. He has two sisters, Laura and Christina, with Christina currently pursuing a career in volleyball at the national level. Lysacek comes from a mix of Italian and Greek heritage and was raised in the Orthodox Christian faith. He completed high school in 2003, earning several awards for his academic achievements.
At the age of eight, Lysacek started ice skating. Initially, he considered playing hockey, so his mother enrolled him and his sister in figure skating lessons to learn how to skate. It quickly became evident that figure skating was his true passion, and he showed great potential in the sport.
Junior Career and International Success
In 1996, at the age of 10, Lysacek won the U.S. Novice Championship. Over the next few years, he continued to climb through the ranks, winning medals at regional and sectional qualifying competitions. In the 1999/2000 season, Lysacek made his international debut at the ISU Junior Grand Prix competitions. He performed well, placing seventh in his first event and winning his second, ultimately earning a spot in the Junior Grand Prix Final.
In 2000, Lysacek became the U.S. Junior Champion at the national championships. He finished fifth in the short program and took first place in the free skate, securing the overall title. Lysacek became the first skater since Terry Kubicka to win consecutive U.S. titles at the novice and junior levels.
Transition to Senior Level
In 2001, Lysacek made his debut as a senior skater at the U.S. Championships, finishing twelfth at the age of 15. He was selected as an alternate for the U.S. national team and got his chance to compete when Ryan Bradley suffered an injury. Lysacek performed exceptionally well and finished second overall, only behind his American teammate Johnny Weir.
The following year, Lysacek faced several injuries, including broken ribs, which affected his training. He also missed the Junior Grand Prix due to the events of September 11. Despite these setbacks, he persevered and continued to train. In the 2002-2003 season, Lysacek won two silver medals at the ISU Junior Grand Prix events and placed fifth at the Grand Prix Final. He finished seventh at the U.S. Championships, securing a spot as one of the three U.S. men at the World Junior Championships.
Senior Career and Olympic Success
In 2003, Lysacek graduated from high school and changed coaches, seeking guidance from Ken Congemi and Frank Carroll. Under their coaching, he won both of his Junior Grand Prix events and qualified for the Junior Grand Prix Final. In the 2004-2005 season, Lysacek moved up to the senior level, despite battling a hip injury. He achieved a fifth-place finish at the Skate America and the Cup of Russia. At the U.S. Championships, he won the bronze medal, earning his first and only six-point mark for the short program in his career.
In 2005, Lysacek revamped his program, transitioning from "Brigadoon" to "Carmen," which brought him greater success. However, he had to withdraw from the ISU Grand Prix Final due to medical reasons near the end of the season.
In 2006, Lysacek competed in the Winter Olympics, finishing in fourth place overall despite battling stomach issues. Since then, he has consistently performed well in various competitions, showcasing his exceptional skills. It is without a doubt that Lysacek will continue to demonstrate his high-level abilities at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.
