Live chat with Evan Lysacek, Rosalynn Sumners

Here are highlights of an exclusive, live chat Thursday with Olympic medalist figure skaters Evan Lysacek and Rosalynn Sumners. They talked about the Feb. 25 Smucker's Stars on Ice show at KeyArena, the Olympics, "Dancing with the Stars" and much more.

Q: Evan, you were amazing on "Dancing with the Stars." If there is an all-star season, would you do it?

Lysacek: "Dancing with the Stars" was an incredible experience, for different reasons than you would think. I came away with an amazing group of friends, which is something that I value very much as an individual athlete. I would love to do an all-star season.

Q: What is a typical day like on the road?

Sumners: All I remember seeing of the cities was the StairMaster, the Starbucks and the arenas.

Q: Were there any personal demons you had to battle in order to be the skater you are today?

Lysacek: Yes, I have battled obsession during my career and unfortunately, as you get closer to your goal, it only gets worse. The biggest adjustment for me has been re-entering normal life. But I still somehow miss the days of the masochistic training.

Q: Rosalynn, what is your life like now?

Sumners: I no longer skate, not even for fun, because my expectations are still very high. Plus, I'm tired of being cold.

My life is very fulfilling, with family, fun travel, and my new venture, Bella Tesori (my home décor boutique in Kirkland). It fulfills my creative juices. And I love the challenge of something new.

Q: Rosalynn, what was it like competing against Katerina Witt back in the day?

Sumners: The world was so different way back then, with the Iron Curtain, and Katerina Witt was from East Germany. Competing against her was very intimidating because of her stern and determined demeanor. We became very good friends when we toured together on Stars on Ice, after our competing days were over.

Q: Evan, are you excited that you'll be ringing the closing bell of the Stock Exchange next week?

Lysacek: I am so ecstatic about going to the New York Stock Exchange and ringing the closing bell. Analyzing stocks is a hobby of mine. I can spend hours on barchart.com. Can't wait.

Sumners: That's cool, Evan. But I get to ring the bell for wine every night at 5 p.m. That's what the closing bell means to me.

Q: What about beating Victor Plushenko without a quad? You tried one at nationals, so why not at the Olympics?

Lysacek: It's very interesting that the Europeans were at the forefront of battling for the increase of value with the quad, yet at 2011 Europeans, the winner did not do a quad. Very few men still are doing them.

My decision to not train a quad leading up to Vancouver was because my left foot was broken. It was not a strategic move, but a health risk.

Q: Rosalynn, I know you grew up in Edmonds. Do you still live in the Seattle area?

Sumners: I did grow up in Edmonds and skated at Sno-King Ice Arena in Lynnwood. I spent pretty much every day there from 1976 to 1984. I was there this morning with Evan, and it brought back so many memories. I now live in Kirkland, but go back to Edmonds all the time. It will always be home.

Q: Evan, how do you stay so down to earth?

Sumners: Evan has already left for the rink, but I can tell you, after spending the day with him, he is the most down-to-earth, funny, and personable person and champion. He was nice to every single person that approached him today. It's real, not fake.

Even though I'm married, I now have a little bit of an Evan crush. :)