Evan Lysacek is feeling the love from his hometown Naperville.
"People keep asking me since I've won the gold medal, what's the coolest thing that's happened to me?" Lysacek told the Neuqua Valley High School student body. "And I think it's that entrance and the support you guys just showed me."
The Olympic gold medalist got a rock-star pep rally at Neuqua Valley High School Friday morning for "Evan Lysacek Day." He accepted the Distinguished Alumni Award, and Mayor George Pradel unveiled a street sign of "Evan Lysacek Commemorative Parkway" in front of the building.
The champion's schedule is busy as ever, but he's happy to be home.
“A lot of celebrations here in Naperville,” Lysacek told NBC 5 Friday morning. “It’s a celebration, but it’s also an opportunity for me to come home and say thank you.”
Aside from his special day activities, Lysacek talked to NBC about his recent debut on “Dancing With The Stars.”
Trading his skates in for some dance shoes was a pretty easy transition for him.
Local
“I wasn’t nervous at all, I was excited,” Lysacek said. “The show is so much fun and the whole cast is like a family already so I’m having a blast.”
The Olympian may be having fun, but the fun comes along with a lot of hard work and commitment. Lysacek is not only competing on “Dancing With The Stars,” but he’s also training for a skating tour.
“It’s a lot of work and I’m starting to work double duty now training for dancing and training on the ice because I’ll be touring with “Smucker’s Stars On Ice” while we’re taping the show every Wednesday through Saturday,” said Lysacek.
