Lysacek upsets Plushenko for gold, Takahashi 3rd

Lysacek upsets Plushenko for gold medal

VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Evan Lysacek has won the men’s figure skating gold medal at the Vancouver Olympics, upsetting defending champion Evgeni Plushenko.

Daisuke Takahashi of Japan won the bronze Thursday night.

Lysacek’s flawless, if somewhat conservative, performance earned him the first U.S. men’s gold since Brian Boitano in 1988. Plushenko, trying to become the first repeat men’s gold medalist since Dick Button in 1952, couldn’t top him. Some sloppy landings on jumps and one weak spin were enough to drop him to silver.

When Plushenko’s scores were announced, Lysacek, the current world champion, jumped in elation backstage. Plushenko simply smiled and walked out of the kiss-and-cry area.