Evan Lysacek of the United States defeated his arch-rival defending champion Evgeni Plushenko of Russia to win the men's singles figure skating at the Vancouver Olympic Winter Games on Thursday.

Lysacek, who was second after short program, had the title at 257.67 points after free program, the first gold for the United States in the event since Brian Boitano won in 1988 Calgary winter Olympics.

Plushenko, gold medal winner in Torino, who gave a near-perfect performance in free program, had to be content with the silver at 256.36.

Daisuke Takahashi was third at 247.23, thus becoming the first men's figure skater from Japan to win a medal in winter Olympics.