Paul Wylie

Paul Stanton Wylie (born October 28, 1964) is an American figure skater, and the 1992 Olympic silver medalist in men's singles skating.

Personal life Wylie was born on October 24, 1964, in Dallas, Texas, to Bob Wylie (a geophysicist) and B.L. Wylie (a realtor) — the youngest of three children. In Dallas, he attended St. Mark's School of Texas. When he was eleven, his family moved to Denver, Colorado, where he focused increasingly on skating and graduated from Colorado Academy.

Wylie attended Harvard University and graduated in 1991 with a degree in government. After competing in the 1992 Winter Olympics, as he planned, he retired from amateur competition and began his professional skating career. It was his intention to tour for a few years and then go to law school. He was admitted to law school, but deferred attendance for a few years.

On August 14, 1999, Wylie married Kate Presbrey, a Cape Cod native and former Brown University Division 1 hockey player. After moving to Denver, he began to train with Carlo Fassi. Wylie remained with Fassi for nine years, first in Denver and later in Colorado Springs when Fassi relocated to the Broadmoor Skating Club. As a young skater, Wylie additionally worked with John Curry and Robin Cousins, who were also students of Fassi. Cousins lived with the Wylie family while he was training for the 1980 Winter Olympics.

In 1979, Wylie won the novice men's title at the U.S. Championships, and in the 1981 season, he won both the U.S. junior title and the World Junior Championships. At the latter event, he landed his first triple jumps in competition—two triple toe loops.

At the same time, Wylie was competing in pair skating with partner Dana Graham. They won the junior pairs title at the 1980 U.S. nationals. They were coached by John Nicks, commuting to work with him in California. They placed eighth in the senior division at the 1981 U.S. nationals, but then dissolved their partnership when they lost financial sponsorship.

In 1985, wanting to rework some of his technique, Wylie left Fassi and began to train instead with Evy and Mary Scotvold, who were at that time located in Janesville, Wisconsin. Shortly afterwards, they all moved to the Boston area.

Wylie placed second at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in 1988, 1990, and 1992. He won the silver medal at the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville, France. The medal was considered a major upset, as Wylie had never finished higher than ninth at the World Figure Skating Championships four years prior, and had skated such a poor performance at the 1992 U.S. Championships that reporters questioned his placement on the Olympic team. The USFSA had even left Wylie off the team for the 1992 World Championships, naming Mark Mitchell in his place.

Figure skating writer and historian Ellyn Kestnbaum stated that Wylie's Christian faith influenced his skating, especially his free skating program during the 1991—1992 season, when he used music from the Henry V soundtrack, when he "extended his body fully into space" and "might have been reaching for and supported by an ineffable spirituality". Kestnbaum also stated that Wylie used dramatic and powerful motions in his free skate, with a footwork section that portrayed a swordfight that "epitomized a heroic masculine energy".

After two days, Wylie woke up from his coma and was released from the hospital nine days later. He has made a full recovery but continues to wear an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator pacemaker. He had no symptoms of heart disease except for experiencing a few dizzy spells a few days before the incident. Doctors gave Wylie a clean bill of health, saying he had no heart or brain damage.

Awards U.S. Olympic Spirit Award (1992) U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame Inductee (2008)

Professional competitive highlights Ice Wars 1996 (team) 1st Battle of the Sexes 1996 (men's team) 1st Miko Masters 1996 1st Challenge of Champions 1995 1st Fall Team Pro-Am (team) 1st, 1st overall Ice Wars 1995 (team) 1st Miko Masters Paris Championships 1995 1st Ice Wars 1994 (team) 1st Spring Pro-Am 1994 1st World Challenge of Champions 1993 1st World Professional Figure Skating Championships 1993 1st Fall Pro-Am 3rd 1993 Miko Masters Paris Championships 1993 1st World Challenge of Champions 1992 1st U.S. Open Professional Championships 1992 1st Fall Pro-Am 1992 1st

Programs

Post-1992 SeasonExhibition / Professional Competition2003-2004 "Hero" by Enrique Iglesias

JFK Soundtrack by John Williams choreo. by Mary Scotvold

"Healing Rain" by Michael W Smith

"Oh Come All Ye Faithful" by Michael W Smith1997-1998 On the Waterfront Soundtrack by Leonard Bernstein choreo. by Mary Scotvold

"Go the Distance" from Hercules by Michael Bolton

"How About You" by Harry Nilsson

"Summon the Heroes" by John Williams choreo. by Mary Scotvold

Sleepers Soundtrack by John Williams

"Place in this World" by Michael W Smith

Carmina Burana by Carl Orff choreo. by Mary Scotvold

"Touch Me" by The Doors choreo. by Lar Lubovitch1996-1997 On the Waterfront Soundtrack by Leonard Bernstein choreo. by Mary Scotvold

"Bring Him Home" from Les Misérables choreo. by Mary Scotvold

"How About You" by Harry Nilsson

"Summon the Heroes" by John Williams choreo. by Mary Scotvold

Mission: Impossible Soundtrack by Danny Elfman

JFK Soundtrack by John Williams choreo. by Mary Scotvold

Carmina Burana by Carl Orff choreo. by Mary Scotvold

"Touch Me" by The Doors choreo. by Lar Lubovitch

The Mission Soundtrack by Ennio Morricone Organ Concerto in G Minor by Poulenc Water Fountain by David Foster Leonore Overture No. 3 by Beethoven choreo. by Mary Scotvold

"Angels We Have Heard on High" perf by Philadelphia Orchestra

Concerto in E Major - Siciliano by JS Bach1995-1996 On the Waterfront Soundtrack by Leonard Bernstein choreo. by Mary Scotvold

Apollo 13 Soundtrack by James Horner choreo. by Mary Scotvold

"How About You" by Harry Nilsson

"This is the Moment" from Jekyll and Hyde choreo. by Mary Scotvold

Schindler's List Soundtrack by John Williams choreo. by Mary Scotvold

JFK Soundtrack by John Williams choreo. by Mary Scotvold

Carmina Burana by Carl Orff choreo. by Mary Scotvold

La Valse by Maurice Ravel choreo. by Mary Scotvold

"It Had to Be You" by Harry Connick Jr

"Tonight" (with Nancy Kerrigan) from EFX perf by Michael Crawford

"Oh Come All Ye Faithful" by Michael W Smith1994-1995 The Untouchables Soundtrack by Ennio Morricone Carlito's Way Soundtrack by Patrick Doyle choreo. by Mary Scotvold

"Gallop" from The Comedians by Dmitry Kabalevsky

"Silent Night" by Neil Diamond

Prelude Fugue and Riffs by Leonard Bernstein

Schindler's List Soundtrack by John Williams choreo. by Mary Scotvold

Henry V Soundtrack by Patrick Doyle Symphony No 3 by Saint-Saens choreo. by Mary Scotvold

Carmina Burana by Carl Orff choreo. by Mary Scotvold

"Oh Holy Night" by Tevin Campbell

The Mission Soundtrack by Ennio Morricone Organ Concerto in G Minorby Poulenc Symphony No 3 by Saint-Saens choreo. by Mary Scotvold1993-1994 The Untouchables Soundtrack by Ennio Morricone Carlito's Way Soundtrack by Patrick Doyle choreo. by Mary Scotvold

"This is the Moment" from Jekyll and Hyde choreo. by Mary Scotvold

"Angel" by Jon Secada choreo. by Mary Scotvold

"The Last Night of the World" (with Nancy Kerrigan) from Miss Saigon

JFK Soundtrack by John Williams choreo. by Mary Scotvold

Henry V Soundtrack by Patrick Doyle Symphony No 3 by Saint-Saens choreo. by Mary Scotvold

Carmina Burana by Carl Orff choreo. by Mary Scotvold

"Oh Holy Night" by Tevin Campbell1992-1993 "It Had to Be You" by Harry Connick Jr

"This is the Moment" from Jekyll and Hyde choreo. by Mary Scotvold

"Why God, Why" from Miss Saigon choreo. by Mary Scotvold

"The Last Night of the World" (with Nancy Kerrigan) from Miss Saigon

JFK Soundtrack by John Williams choreo. by Mary Scotvold

Pre-1992 SeasonShort programFree skatingExhibition1991-1992 La Valse by Maurice Ravel choreo. by Mary Scotvold Henry V Soundtrack by Patrick Doyle Symphony No 3 by Saint-Saens choreo. by Mary Scotvold "Why God, Why" from Miss Saigon choreo. by Mary Scotvold

"The Last Night of the World" (with Nancy Kerrigan) from Miss Saigon choreo. by Mary Scotvold1990-1991 The Right Stuff Soundtrack by Bill Conti choreo. by Mary Scotvold The Mission Soundtrack by Ennio Morricone Organ Concerto in G Minorby Poulenc Water Fountain by David Foster Leonore Overture No. 3 by Beethovan choreo. by Mary Scotvold "It Had to Be You" by Harry Connick Jr

"Try a Little Tenderness" from The Commitments Soundtrack

"Why God, Why" from Miss Saigon choreo. by Mary Scotvold

"The Last Night of the World" (with Nancy Kerrigan) from Miss Saigon1989-1990 "Reach for the Stars" by Herb Alpert "And the Kids Call It Boogie" by Gap Mangione choreo. by Mary Scotvold

Sing Hallelujah by Phil Driscoll "And the Kids Call It Boogie" by Gap Mangione choreo. by Mary Scotvold "Dear Father" by Neil Diamond

"It Had to Be You" by Harry Connick Jr

"Why God, Why" from Miss Saigon choreo. by Mary Scotvold1988-1989 Sing Hallelujah by Phil Driscoll "And the Kids Call It Boogie" by Gap Mangione choreo. by Mary Scotvold "Dear Father" by Neil Diamond

"Gethsemane" from Jesus Christ Superstar choreo. by Mary Scotvold1987-1988 Sing Hallelujah by Phil Driscoll A Chorus Line choreo. by Mary Scotvold The Natural Soundtrack by Randy Newman 1984 Olympic Theme by John Williams The River by John Williams 1976 Olympic Theme by Salsoul Orchestra choreo. by Mary Scotvold "I Can Do That" from A Chorus Line choreo. by Mary Scotvold

1984 Olympic Theme by John Williams The River by John Williams 1976 Olympic Theme by Salsoul Orchestra choreo. by Mary Scotvold "Fabulous Feet" from Tap Dance Kid1983-1984 Fanfare for the Common Man by Aaron Copland "Reviewing the Situation" from Oliver! Charlie Chaplin Medley "Fever" (instrumental) written by Little Willie John

Results International Event 80-81 81–82 82–83 83–84 84–85 85–86 86–87 87–88 88–89 89–90 90–91 91–92 Olympics 10th 2nd Worlds 9th 10th 11th Skate America 7th Skate Canada 2nd 3rd Inter. de Paris 1st 5th NHK Trophy 5th 2nd 4th Nations Cup 3rd St. Ivel 1st International: Junior Junior Worlds 1st National U.S. Champ. 2nd J 1st J 11th 5th 4th 5th 5th 5th 2nd 3rd 2nd 3rd 2nd J = Junior