(NEXSTAR) - Olympic gold medalist Evan Lysacek is attending the figure skating events in Milan, marking his first appearance at a live skating competition in 10 years. He is in Italy to support Team USA and reconnect with the sport where he won a gold medal in 2010. Evan's return to the Olympic atmosphere follows a decade-long absence that began after he attempted to qualify for the 2014 Winter Games. Since his retirement from competitive skating, he has focused on a career in real estate development, including commercial and residential projects. Lysacek described himself as an "elder statesman" among the current skaters but noted he is primarily in Milan as a supporter. He expressed excitement about being back with his fellow Americans after a decade away from the live environment. "It's been a long time since I was at an Olympic Games," Lysacek said. "And so for me, being with my country mates here and cheering on Team USA, but also seeing the incredible talent that we have in the figure skating event, that was my support for the skating." The former champion commented on the technical progression of the sport, specifically mentioning the performance of skater Ilia Malinin. He noted that the "insane quads" being performed today were maneuvers his generation only attempted as jokes at the end of training weeks. "Whatever he does is like light years ahead of anything I ever dreamed that anyone would do," Lysacek said regarding Malinin. "He's the type of athlete that thrives under pressure. And so to me, he doesn't look nervous. To me, he doesn't look scared. He looks just totally prepared and ready to go." Lysacek also observed a distinct difference in the camaraderie of the current U.S. roster compared to his era. He attributed this change to the introduction of the team event, which has only been part of the Olympic program for a few cycles. "I think this team event... has created a camaraderie with the athletes that we didn't have as much at my time," Lysacek said. He added that the format gives the athletes a "reason to link arms" and feel like a cohesive unit. Following his 2010 victory in Vancouver, Lysacek struggled with the conclusion of his skating career, describing himself as having a "broken heart." He relocated and began working in commercial real estate to heal from the transition. He and his wife now operate a joint residential development company that manages projects in the United States and abroad. Lysacek stated that he now feels "ready to be back" and fortunate to have the time to reconnect with the skating family he grew up with. Team USA is competing for a gold medal in the ongoing figure skating team event. Lysacek noted that a victory would provide a strong start for the American team during these Games. "I think Team USA has such a great shot in this first figure skating event," Lysacek said. "To get the gold medal... that would be, I mean, what a start to the games for the figure skating team." All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by Nexstar. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat from a broadcast script into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by Nexstar staff before being published.