American Evan Lysacek wins gold medal at figure skating championships

By Linda Robertson

LOS ANGELES — Evan Lysacek couldn’t contain his excitement. In the closing seconds of an error-free long program, as he spun faster and faster in front of the judges and his hometown fans, he pumped his fists.

The gesture wasn’t part of his planned choreography but it reflected his feelings. Lysacek, so often an also-ran on the international stage, won the gold medal at the World Figure Skating Championships on Thursday night at Staples Center.

Lysacek, who lives in nearby El Segundo, became first American man to win the world title since Todd Eldredge in 1996.

“This is such an electric building,” he said. “I’m here to cheer on the Lakers and Kings whenever I can. I turned that nervous energy into adrenaline.”

In a preview of the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, Lysacek boosted his reputation and proved he could win without the ultimate weapon in skating – a quadruple jump.

Lysacek landed eight triple jumps and scored a personal best of 159.93 points in the long program to win by a comfortable margin with a total of 242.23 points.

Lysacek upset Brian Joubert of France, who skated last and likely had the title in hand until he tripped and fell face first on the ice after landing his final jump, a triple salchow. Joubert, in first place after Wednesday’s short program, slid to third. He opened with a flawless quadruple toe loop but stumbled on a triple axel.

Canada’s Patrick Chan, the 18-year-old who has captivated the skating world this season, finished second. He also nailed eight triple jumps.

Lysacek wore a velveteen midnight blue tuxedo outfit and skated with vigor and panache to Rhapsody in Blue by George Gershwin. His fluid footwork and tight spins earned him the highest component – or artistic – score of the night.

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