Highlights for 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

Paul Wylie, Olympic Silver Medalist and Charlotte resident, is serving as Honorary Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee.

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.