Figure Skater Evan Lysacek's Faux-Masculinity Causes Backlash

To the average viewer, Evan Lysacek's fake tan, makeup, and Vera Wang-designed costumes easily show that he is not exactly the pinnacle of masculinity.

He disagrees.

Lysacek frequently bemoans the femininity of his chosen sport. He calls for more power and manliness in the form of a quadruple jump, arguably the most difficult element in figure skating today. He would rather have an all-jumping contest than skating's current cornucopia of artistry and strength. He refers to himself as one of the best skaters in the world.

Lysacek himself has not completed a quadruple jump successfully in competition since 2008. He won the 2009 World Championship without a quad when all of the other skaters made mistakes. In October, he was beaten by Japanese skater Nobunari Oda, whose lyrical interpretation of Chaplin has garnered universal acclaim. In January, he was beaten by Jeremy Abbott and took second at his own national championship.

This season, Lysacek's programs to "Firebird" and "Scheherazade" are recognizable due to his signature straight-line step sequence (and the feathers on his costume), always set to the climax to the music. He flails his arms and throws his head back to over-emphasize the notes. Technically, he is good, but his performances are methodical and mechanical. His emotions consist of focus (four minutes) and faux-passionate (forty-five seconds).

The men of the figure skating world today can be broken into two categories. The more artistic men concentrate on the performance, such as Oda, 2008 world bronze medalist Johnny Weir, and 2009 world silver medalist Patrick Chan. The quad kings, such as 2009 world bronze medalist Brian Joubert and reigning Olympic champion Evgeny Plushenko forego the spins and steps for hardcore jumps. A tiny fraction of skaters, such as Jeremy Abbott, can execute quads and show superior artistry. Lysacek's lack of quad and pedestrian artistry take him out of all of the categories.

Off the ice, Lysacek makes sure to publicize his heterosexual relationships with ice dancer Tanith Belbin and, more recently, gymnast Nastia Liukin yet called teammate Johnny Weir's attention seeking ways "desperate." He referred to January's championship as "practice"--perhaps because he has not won the national title since 2008 in a controversial tie with Weir.

Lysacek may be the world champion, but his star is certainly waning. His own desperation for masculinity and power have backfired. Abbott and Weir are certainly the fan favorites of the United States. Plushenko, Joubert, and the Japanese stars are in top form. Perhaps Lysacek's complaints have done nothing but prove his own hypocrisy and take him out of the running for a medal in Vancouver.