Evan Frank Lysacek was born June 4, 1985 in Chicago, Illinois. While growing up in Naperville, Illinois, Lysacek received a pair of ice skates from his grandmother, who wanted him to be in the Ice Capades. Evan, however, always wanted to play hockey, so his mother enrolled him in ice skating lessons so he could perfect skating before trying out the rough sport. Much to his surprise, Evan began to excel at figure skating and began skating competitively.

By 1996, Evan was already competing nationally, winning the U.S. national title at the juvenile level. He continued to move up in the ranks in the U.S. Figure Skating competitive structure, and by the age of 13 he won the Novice title at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships. The following year, he earned the Junior title at the 2000 U.S. Figure Skating Championships.

Evan began skating at the international level as well, earning second place at the 2001 World Junior Figure Skating Championships. He lost only to American Johnny Weir, and together they became the first American pair since 1987 to take home the gold and silver medals from the competition.

In 2003, Evan graduated from high school and opted to change coaches. He chose to work with Ken Congemi and Frank Carroll, who took his skating to the next level as he began to compete in the senior level. In 2007, Evan won his first national title after cleaning landing a quadruple jump in the U.S. Figure Skating Championships. He won the title again in 2008, and followed that up with a win at the 2009 World Figure Skating Championships.

Evan skated in his first Olympics games during the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. He was in second after the short program, but skated a clean yet difficult free skate, boosting him to first place. Evan became the first American since Brian Boitano in 1988 to take home the gold medal.

Kristine (Kristi) Yamaguchi was born July 12, 1971, in Hayward, California, to Jim, a dentist, and Carole, a medical secretary. As a child, Kristi watched ice skater Dorothy Hamill win the Olympic gold medal in 1976, and Hamill instantly became Kristi’s idol. Kristi’s parents enrolled her in skating lessons, which they hoped would double as physical therapy for her severely clubbed feet. Kristi was a natural on ice, and she fell in love with the sport.

She began competing in the sport, and, in 1986, she took the junior pairs title at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships with Rudy Galindo. Rudy and Kristi were an unusual pair; the two were both acclaimed singles skaters, and unlike other couples, they jumped and spun in opposite directions. Still, Rudy and Kristi continued their winning streak in 1988, winning the World Junior Championships. Kristi also nabbed the singles title at the competition.

Beginning in 1990, Kristi focused her time on singles competitions. She won the U.S. senior ladies competition in 1992, as well as the World Championships in 1992. Also in 1992, Kristi went to the Winter Olympics in Albertville, France. Although her competitors included the triple axel jump in their programs, Kristi opted to leave the difficult feat out. Instead, she impressed the judges with her artistic movements and the triple lutz-triple toe loop-toe loop combination. She nabbed the gold medal, becoming the first ladies figure skater since Yvonne Sherman to win the U.S. senior pairs and ladies figure skating titles.

Following the eventful 1992 season, Kristi became a professional. As a professional, she toured with Stars on Ice and competed in the professional circuit. Today, she is focusing on family life; she is the mother of two and is married to the former NHL player Bret Hedican.