Evan Lysacek is Back on Track After December Injury
by Laura Fawcett  (St. Louis, Mo., 1/11/05) - It was supposed to be a press conference with World bronze medalist
Evan Lysacek, but with the always charismatic Frank Carroll on the podium, along with choreographer Lori Nichol, Lysacek had to compete for the attention of about 50 media members.
But the always-affable Lysacek was able to get his points across when it counted.
“I’m so thrilled to be here,” he said. “I’m coming in with lots of confidence. I’ve worked extremely hard … to cover all the basis. I have had a strange sense of calm this whole week, and I hope that’s a good thing.”
This season so far has been a good thing for Lysacek, at least for part of the time. After a dismal start at the Campbell’s Classic, where he finished sixth, he rebounded to win the silver at Smart Ones Skate America. He nevertheless scrapped his free skate to “Grease” in favor of the more traditional “Carmen.”
“The free skate is so modern,” he said, disagreeing that it has the same sort of Latin feel as his short program. “It’s more of a tragic opera than a matador. The main themes are power, passion and truth. These were the themes we (he and Nichol) were looking to find.”
Speaking of matadors, Lysacek has gone back to his “Espana Cani” short program of previous years, ditching his 2005 Gipsy Kings program. However, it’s a totally revamped program choreographically with higher levels incorporated. His free skate has only experienced minor changes since the NHK Trophy, where he finished second.
As for his health, there’s good news and bad news. Although the tendonitis and bursitis affecting one of his hips is healed, he’s still limited by the stress fracture he suffered in his other hip more than a year ago.
“The tendonitis and bursitis was a minor setback,” he said. “It was an inflammation from a tremendous increase in work … mostly hours. It was an overuse injury that required rest. I gave it that and the pain is gone.”
He doesn’t think the “stress fracture” hip will affect him this week. He has a quad planned in the free skate and feels ready to go.
As for Carroll and Nichol? Well, they offered opinions on Michelle Kwan and the Olympics (Carroll said, “I’m sure the powers that be will want her to be there, but I’m also sure [they] will want her to be ready to [compete].”); to the new system (“It’s like paint by numbers with a straight jacket on,” Nichol said, and “We’re seeing bloody ugly spins,” Carroll said.).
Can’t argue with quotes like that. |