Believe in Yourself and Realize that You’ve Done the Work

The last time an American man won Olympic figure skating gold, Evan Lysacek was a toddler. That was in 1988 when Brian Boitano edged Canadian Brian Orser in the Battle of the Brians on Orser's home turf in Calgary. Twenty-two years later, the Winter Olympics are back in Canada, and Lysacek, the defending world champion, is seen as the one who can end the U.S. drought.

This article from the NY Times details his akward beginnings and eventual rise to the top of the world standings. Yet now at his second Olympics, Lysacek, 24, is still looking for his first Olympic medal.

At the 2006 Turin Games Lysacek finished fourth, coming back from a 10th-place finish in the short program while battling a stomach virus.

“I remember how I felt at the last Olympics, and this time, I’m not going to have any regrets,” Lysacek said. “Back then, I was overwhelmed by everything, the opening ceremony and the other athletes and just everything about the Olympics. Now, it’s all business.”

This time around when Evan Lysacek begins his bid for gold in the men’s singles figure skating competition Tuesday night, he is more focused and understands what's most important to his chances:

“The biggest thing is going to be the mentality. It is important to know what it involves to be a winner, and my experiences and preparations have equipped me for that.”

“You have to believe in yourself and realize that you’ve done the work; I think about that a lot,” Lysacek said. “I let it all sink in after a practice where no one is cheering, no one is watching. It’s just me in a cold, stinky locker room, all by myself, exhausted.”