Greensboro, N.C. –

U.S. Figure Skating and North Carolina 2011 announced today that 1992 Olympic silver medalist Paul Wylie has been named honorary chairman and ambassador of the 2011 U.S. Figure Skating Championships.

A decorated competitor and international champion, Wylie is the latest in a long line of great skaters, like Olympian Scott Hamilton, who have held this position in the past. In addition to his role as honorary chairman, Wylie will serve as an ambassador for the 2011 U.S. Championships, helping to spread the word through appearances, clinics and speaking engagements about the significance and impact of this event.

"Having Paul Wylie as honorary chair and ambassador for the 2011 U.S. Figure Skating Championships is a major plus for our local organizing committee," said Hill Carrow, North Carolina 2011 chairman. "Paul is the most accomplished figure skating resident of our state, he has the highest respect in the figure skating community, and he competed 15 times at the U.S. Championships! He is ideal for the position, and we are excited that he is willing to take on this leadership role."

Wylie's long and distinguished career includes several major milestones in addition to the silver medal at the 1992 Olympic Winter Games in Albertville, France. He competed at the senior level at the U.S. Championships 11 consecutive years, medaling each year from 1988-92. Wylie was also a champion of the event at the novice and the junior levels. In 1992, he capped his successful season by winning the U.S. Professional Figure Skating Championships, and then won the gold at the World Professional Figure Skating Championships in 1993. Last year, Wylie was inducted into the U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame.

 "I am delighted to serve as honorary chairman for the 2011 U.S. Figure Skating Championships,"  Wylie said. "This is the first time our country's biggest figure skating event has come to North Carolina, and it is very important that it be successful.

"As an ambassador, my goal is to get North Carolinians to embrace the U.S. Championships. We want big crowds there to support the athletes. We also would like to grow the sport of figure skating in North Carolina, and I see my role with the U.S. Championships as a way to help accomplish that."

A native of Dallas, Texas, Wylie has degrees from both Harvard University and Harvard Business School. He lives with his wife and three children in Charlotte, N.C., where he coaches figure skating at Extreme Ice, located in Indian Trail.

About Paul Wylie – Highlights from Paul Wylie's skating career:

2008       U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame Inductee

1993       World Professional Figure Skating Championships, gold

1992       U.S. Olympic Spirit Award

1992       U.S. Professional Championships, gold

1992       XVI Olympic Winter Games, silver

1992       U.S. Figure Skating Championships, silver

1991       U.S. Figure Skating Championships, bronze

1990       U.S. Figure Skating Championships, silver

1989       U.S. Figure Skating Championships, bronze

1989       U.S. Olympic Festival, silver

1981       U.S. Figure Skating Championships, junior, gold

1979       U.S. Figure Skating Championships, novice, gold

About 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 900 registered Basic Skills skating schools representing approximately 170,000 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 

About North Carolina 2011 – North Carolina 2011 is the local organizing committee for the 2011 U.S. Figure Skating Championships to be held in Greensboro, N.C. NC 2011 is led by Sports & Properties, Inc., with Hill Carrow, CEO of SPI, serving as chairman of the LOC, and Faryn Driscoll, SPI's client services manager, serving as director of operations. NC 2011 encompasses a collaborative team consisting of the Greensboro Coliseum Complex, the Greensboro Sports Commission, the Greensboro Convention & Visitors Bureau, and the North Carolina Figure Skating Association. For more information on North Carolina 2011 and the 2011 U.S. Figure Skating Championships, visit www.northcarolina2011.com.