Harvard Eagerly Awaits Paul Wylie

Members of the Harvard community said yesterday that they are anxiously awaiting the triumphant return of Harvard's latest Olympic medalist.

Paul E. Wylie '91, who won the silver medal in the figure skating competition on Sunday, plans to come home to Somerville after appearing on a New York City talk show, according to Kristin L. Brunner '94, Wylie's girlfriend.

Eliot House Masters Stephen A. Mitchell and Kristine L. Forsgard said that Wylie's achievement has cast a general mood of excitement over Eliot, Wylie's undergraduate home.

"The house is ecstatic. Everybody has been walking around with smiles on their faces," Forsgard said. "We were all kind of immersed in the suspense."

"He was fabulous," said Mitchell, a professorof Scandinavian and Folklore. "Nobody in the worldcould have deserved it more."

Forsgard added that the masters ordered thelighting of the Eliot House bell tower, which isilluminated only on special occasions.

Eliot residents said yesterday that they alsowere delighted by Wylie's achievement.

"[Wylie's medal] was something I'd really hopedfor because he told me this was the last amateurperformance he would ever have," said Eric J. Lee'94.

A True Champion

"I think Paul Wylie is a true champion and thathis performance in the Olympics proves all hisyears in training and hard work have paid off,"said Henry M. Ellenbogen '94.

"I'm glad the whole world got to see what aterrific athlete he is," Ellenbogen added.

Eliot residents said that Wylie's success wasespecially thrilling because commentators hadpredicted the former Harvard undergraduate wouldfare poorly in the competition.

Feeling "slighted" by the televisionannouncers' remarks, Margot A. McAnaney '94 saidshe was discouraged by the dearth of positivecomments before Wylie went out on the ice.

"We were really elated when the artistic markscame out," McAnaney said.

McAnaney said that she and her friends set atimer and an alarm to go off at the beginning ofWylie's performance so that they would not missthe start of the competition.

Other students said that they were shocked thatWylie performed as well as he did.

"Up until this moment it seems the many timeshe's competed he's never had one of those flawlessperformances," Lee said.

Brunner said she too was stunned by Wylie'ssuccess. "It was really shocking," she said. "Idon't think my nerves can handle anymore but itmakes all the years of work come together."

This was the first time that Brunner hadattended one of Wylie's competitions, she added.

"I remember the look on his face, and I'mreally proud of him," Brunner said.

Robi L. Soni '90, Wylie's roommate for fouryears at Harvard, said that his most vivid memoryof Wylie was watching him review videotapes of hispast performances.

"When he won, I felt vicariously vindicated forhim in a way," Soni said

"He was fabulous," said Mitchell, a professorof Scandinavian and Folklore. "Nobody in the worldcould have deserved it more."

Forsgard added that the masters ordered thelighting of the Eliot House bell tower, which isilluminated only on special occasions.

Eliot residents said yesterday that they alsowere delighted by Wylie's achievement.

"[Wylie's medal] was something I'd really hopedfor because he told me this was the last amateurperformance he would ever have," said Eric J. Lee'94.

A True Champion

"I think Paul Wylie is a true champion and thathis performance in the Olympics proves all hisyears in training and hard work have paid off,"said Henry M. Ellenbogen '94.

"I'm glad the whole world got to see what aterrific athlete he is," Ellenbogen added.

Eliot residents said that Wylie's success wasespecially thrilling because commentators hadpredicted the former Harvard undergraduate wouldfare poorly in the competition.

Feeling "slighted" by the televisionannouncers' remarks, Margot A. McAnaney '94 saidshe was discouraged by the dearth of positivecomments before Wylie went out on the ice.

"We were really elated when the artistic markscame out," McAnaney said.

McAnaney said that she and her friends set atimer and an alarm to go off at the beginning ofWylie's performance so that they would not missthe start of the competition.

Other students said that they were shocked thatWylie performed as well as he did.

"Up until this moment it seems the many timeshe's competed he's never had one of those flawlessperformances," Lee said.

Brunner said she too was stunned by Wylie'ssuccess. "It was really shocking," she said. "Idon't think my nerves can handle anymore but itmakes all the years of work come together."

This was the first time that Brunner hadattended one of Wylie's competitions, she added.

"I remember the look on his face, and I'mreally proud of him," Brunner said.

Robi L. Soni '90, Wylie's roommate for fouryears at Harvard, said that his most vivid memoryof Wylie was watching him review videotapes of hispast performances.

"When he won, I felt vicariously vindicated forhim in a way," Soni said