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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media contact:  Renee Felton –

 

 MAHBANOOZADEH TO COMPETE AT 2012 HILTON HHONORS SKATE AMERICA

-2010 Olympic Champion Lysacek Withdraws Due to Injury-

Colorado Springs, Colo. (Oct. 10, 2012) – U.S. Figure Skating announced today that Armin Mahbanoozadeh will compete at 2012 Hilton HHonors Skate America, set for Oct. 19-21, at the ShoWare Center in Kent, Wash. Evan Lysacek, the 2010 Olympic champion, withdrew from Skate America due to a groin injury.

Mahbanoozadeh will make his third consecutive Skate America appearance. He won bronze at 2010 Skate America. The 2012 U.S. pewter medalist, Mahbanoozadeh began his season with a silver-medal finish at the 2012 U.S. International Figure Skating Classic in September.

“I have been training for this event because I knew I was the first alternate,” Mahbanoozadeh said. “I’m excited, determined and ready to go. I am looking forward to competing next week.”

Mahbanoozadeh will join Team USA members Jeremy Abbott, the 2012 U.S. champion, and Douglas Razzano in Kent. Other featured members of Team USA include U.S. champions Ashley Wagner (ladies), Caydee Denney and John Coughlin (pairs) and Meryl Davis and Charlie White (ice dancing).

Lysacek was scheduled to compete at Skate America as part of his return to competitive figure skating this season. He has not competed since winning his Olympic title in February 2010. Lysacek expects to compete at the 2013 Prudential U.S. Figure Skating Championships, Jan. 20-27, in Omaha, Neb.

– U.S. Figure Skating –

 U.S. Figure Skating is the national governing body for the sport of figure skating in the United States as recognized by the United States Olympic Committee and the International Skating Union. U.S. Figure Skating is comprised of more than 700 member clubs, collegiate clubs, and school-affiliated clubs and more than 1,000 registered Basic Skills skating schools representing approximately 173,000 members. U.S. Figure Skating is charged with the development of the sport on all levels within the United States  including athletes, officials, sanctioning of events and exhibitions, and establishing the rules and guidelines by which the sport is governed.