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Chicagoist can't even imagine what it takes to hurl yourself up in the air, turn around four times, land on a skinny metal blade, hurl yourself up again, turn around three more times, land again, and make it look easy, but that's what Naperville native Evan Lysacek did on Saturday night to win his first national championship in figure skating. Lysacek, who entered Saturday night's free skate less than one point ahead of defending national champ Johnny Weir, dominated the free skate, beating Weir by 35 points and second-place finisher Ryan Bradley by 19 points. "This," said four-time world champion Kurt Browning of Canada, "was a clinic."
Lysacek not only landed the quad-triple combination, but also eight other triple jumps. His music was from the opera Carmen, and by the end of the program, the crowd was clapping along. After hitting the last note of his program, Lysacek dropped to his knees on the ice, while the crowd gave him a standing ovation. The next two skaters, Weir and Bradley, could neither match Lysacek's athleticism nor his artistry.
You may remember hearing about Lysacek during the 2006 Olympics, where he was part of the American contingent representing in Torino. Lysacek didn't medal there — he placed fourth, just out of medal contention — but came back to win the bronze medal at the 2006 world championships. We hope this is the first of many gold medals for Lysacek ... anyone else thinking Vancouver in 2010 for the hometown hero?
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aw, i wish i would have watched this. not only is carmen the only opera i can stomach, but i like johnny weir. i can't really remember why, but i think i saw him at torino. props to the napervillian.
the story about this competition in the new york times was great. especially since it suggested that after the napervillian's performance, a dispirited johnny weir just kind of gave up. and, um, i'm so tired of johnny weir, even though i'm not even a skating person - i only watch when its on the espn or in the olympics, but enough already about johnny.
and geekgrrrl, you should give some other operas a chance - how about la boheme or traviata? those are both great ones as well and easily stomached by non-afficianados.
the story about this competition in the new york times was great. especially since it suggested that after the napervillian's performance, a dispirited johnny weir just kind of gave up. and, um, i'm so tired of johnny weir, even though i'm not even a skating person - i only watch when its on the espn or in the olympics, but enough already about johnny.
and geekgrrrl, you should give some other operas a chance - how about la boheme (aka 'rent') or traviata? those are both great ones as well and easily stomached by non-afficianados.
The next two skaters, Weir and Bradley, could neither match Lysacek's athleticism nor his artistry.
I think this comment doesn't give enough credit to Bradley, who did a superb job. Granted he didn't have a quad jump to match the athleticism of Lysacek, but he is a wonderfully engaging performer who totally won the crowd over, not least through his flirty, sexy choreography to match the Latin dance music he skated to. Johnny fell on his pretentious ass, and Ryan stepped right up into the opening to take second place. It was a really nice moment.
I don't hate Johnny Weir. I appreciate his attempts to work some more interpretive art into his skating. But I think he's let the off-rink celebrity he has courted via his flaming personality get in the way. Skating first, Johnny. Raiding the fall collection at Louis Vuitton, second.
Why is it every skating program I've ever watched (Yes, I have a mother and sister and we all love the winter games) is ALWAYS performed to either Carmen or Bolero?