Evan Lysacek

Olympian  

Two dynamic, intense programs during the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver brought Lysacek America's first Olympic men's gold medal since Brian Boitano in 1988. With that victory, Lysacek, the most consistent and decorated U.S. male skater of the past decade, became just the 13th American to attain the Olympic title.

Shortly after his Olympic triumph, Lysacek joined the cast of Dancing with the Stars, where he won praise for his lyrical performances. He and professional partner Anna Trebunskaya earned the first perfect 30 of season 10, for their passionate Argentine Tango. They made it to the finals and finished runners-up to champions Nicole Scherzinger and Derek Hough.

The off-ice opportunities have continued in diverse venues. He appeared in ESPN The Magazine: Body Issue 2010, threw out the first pitch at Dodger Stadium and served as a judge at the Miss Universe pageant.

There have also been numerous honors for Lysacek. He was a 2010 ESPY nominee for Best Male U.S. Olympic Athlete. The United States Olympic Committee named him 2010 SportsMan of the Year. He is a semi-finalist for the Sullivan Award. In February 2011, he received the Thurman Munson Award given for excellence on and off the field, with charitable work and community involvement the dominant criteria.

His charitable work is extensive. He has given his time and talents to such important organizations as Figure Skating in Harlem, HELP USA, Make-A-Wish and the Elizabeth Glazer Pediatric AIDS Foundation. In 2008, he organized a memorial tribute to a childhood friend: Smucker's Presents and An Evening of Hope with Evan Lysacek and Friends at the Fox Valley Ice Arena in Geneva, Ill. The show benefitted the Stephanie Joseph Memorial Fund in collaboration with the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Illinois. Lysacek had known Joseph most of his skating life, and he enlisted friends from the skating world to participate in the fundraiser.

In December 2010, Lysacek partnered with Ferrero Rocher, one of the world's largest confectionary companies and a leader in premium chocolate, to raise money for Habitat for Humanity. Lysacek, who has a passion for fashion, designed a holiday gown that was auctioned off on eBay with the proceeds going to Habitat for Humanity.

While Lysacek has taken a step back from competition, he has not ruled out a comeback prior to the 2014 Olympic Winter Games. For now, his skating is thrilling audiences on tour with Smucker's Stars on Ice.