 In 1996 , Lysacek won the U.S. national title at the Juvenile level – the lowest qualifying level in the U.S. Figure Skating competition structure . In 1997 , he moved up to Intermediate and won the pewter medal ( fourth place ) at the Junior Olympics , after winning both his regional and his sectional qualifying competitions . After failing to qualify for Nationals on the novice level in 1998 , Lysacek won the U.S. Novice title at the 1999 U.S. Championships at the age of thirteen . 
