Evan Lysacek is one of the favorites in the men's competition at this weekend's Grand Prix final in Turin, Italy. FILE/Robert F. Bukaty/ASSOCIATED PRESS Visit the Photo Place

Lysacek's goal: Peak in Vancouver

Date published: 12/14/2007

BY NANCY ARMOUR

AP National Writer

Evan Lysacek is one of the best skaters in the world, a bronze medalist at the world championships, an Olympian and a perennial contender for the U.S. title.

Not enough, coach Frank Carroll said when Lysacek told him his goal was to win a medal at the Vancouver Olympics.

Not nearly enough.

"Frank has the right mentality," Lysacek said. "It was difficult for me to wrap my brain around, 'Work hard now and don't worry about the result.' Why? But these are building years. I have to make mistakes."

The building process continues today in Turin, Italy, where Lysacek will be one of six skaters vying for the men's title at the Grand Prix final. Fellow American Johnny Weir, two-time world champion Stephane Lambiel and world silver medalist Daisuke Takahashi also are in the field.

For the first time in the Grand Prix final's 13-year history, Americans have qualified in all four events. But they will have strong competition from the Japanese, Russians and Chinese.

In the women's competition, reigning world champion Miki Ando failed to qualify, but silver medalist Mao Asada will try and reclaim the title she won two years ago. Last year's winner, Korea's Kim Yu-na, is back, and U.S. champion Kimmie Meissner is making her first appearance at the Grand Prix final.

Olympic silver medalists Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto lead the ice dancing field along with Russians Oksana Domnina and Maxim Shabalin. The pairs event should come down to China's Pang Qing and Tong Jian against Zhang Dan and Zhang Hao.

Lysacek was just 20 and only two years removed from winning his third silver medal at the junior world championships when he made the U.S. team for the Turin Olympics. Despite a fall in the short program and a case of the flu so bad he needed an IV, he finished fourth. He was actually third in the free skate.

As impressive as that was, Lysacek had only one thought as he watched the medals ceremony.

"'God, I want that so bad,'" he recalled. "I talked about it with Frank. I said, 'I want to be on the podium at the next Olympics.'"

Instead of rushing out to plan the party, though, Carroll gave Lysacek the hard truth.

"He said, 'That's going to take a lot of work,'" Lysacek said.

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Date published: 12/14/2007