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Gold medalist Evan Lysacek will miss Sochi with injury

Evan Lysacek, defending men's Olympic figure skating champion, will miss the 2014 Olympics in Sochi because of an injury. It's a blow to both the United States' medal hopes and the storyline aspect of the Games; Lysacek was expected to be one of the lead stories of the Olympics.

"This has been my entire life, training and representing my country," Lysacek said, according to the Associated Press. "So it's just kind of difficult. As much as I knew it could go either way, I never accepted it wouldn't. I always thought it would work out. I was crushed. I am crushed."

Lysacek last competed in 2010. He was attempting to recover from a torn labrum in his left hip, but it became clear he would not be ready for Sochi. Even had he been healthy, he was by no means a certainty to match Dick Button's two golds in 1948 and 1952. But now, he will not even get the opportunity.

Lysacek now joins Johnny Weir as highly recognizable men's skating competitors who will not make the trip to Sochi. Weir retired earlier this fall.

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Jay Busbee

is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at jay.busbee@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!