Lysacek! Fabulosity On Ice With Plushenko, Takahashi, and — Yes — Weir

In a stunning late-night figure skating match-up that could have been called “Saucy Fabulosity on Ice,” the Men’s Figure Skating Olympic champion was decided: Evan Lysacek, the catlike American, edged out Evgeni Plushenko, the catlike Russian.

In between there was also Swiss Stephane Lambiel plus hometeam favorite, Canada’s plucky Patrick Chan— and of course the wildly theatrical and ever-sparkly Johnny Weir.

The competition was marked by falls at the beginning — poor American Jeremy Abbott came out first, wobbly from his last outing, and fell on his first jump into the program. Aw. He skated on through, though, and by the end you could see him regaining his confidence and excitement. It was that kind of night: Weir, too, had a hump to get over and his joyous program was clearly his way of saying, “I may be 6th, but I’m still an Olympian, bitches!” The judges were less than generous with their scores, but the audience loved him (and his crown of roses following. That kid has style).

But the match of

the night was clearly between Lysacek and Plushenko, the closer, whom the camera cut to regularly in the back rehearsing his moves on nimble cat-feet, giant Adrian Brody nose proudly framed by his shaggy blonde hair. His costume, a sleek black catsuit studded with faux tie and lapels with metallic red and silver, also seemed to proclaim a message to the bitches. The mood of the whole night felt a little bit like, “Figure skating is FABULOUS, you Olympic bitches!” Or maybe that was me. It certainly wasn’t Scott Hamilton.

That skating final was truly a fantastic display of athleticism, artistry and grace — even though I docked Plushenko points for a cringe-inducing blown kiss to the judges during his program (ew), there’s no denying he’s an electric — and ballsy! — performer. So’s Weir. Lysacek doesn’t quite have the over-the-top expect-to-see-them-performing-with-Adam-Lambert-and-Lady-Gaga-at-the-next-VMAs-ness as the other two, but he’s got plenty, and he skated like a

dream tonight and then some. (Also, I *loved* his sleek unitard from the short program, very dramatic).

Also I’d just like to say that I called the Lysacek win over Plushenko the way that I called the Saints win over the Colts. Bookies, follow me on Twitter.

p.s. Corrected earlier assertion that it was the Swiss Lambiel whose saucy Harlequin mélange delighted the crowd — it was France’s Florent Amodio, and I leurved him.

Related:
Johnny Weir Skates Routine of His Life, Gets Screwed by Judges [Gawker TV]
Another Olympic Night of Figure Skating Fail [Gawker TV]

Earlier:
PopWatch on Ice: Villains, heroes, and fashion victims in the men’s short programs [EW]

Top photo of Lysacek by Chang W. Lee for the NYT.