Every year, Nationals takes place just after first-semester exams, and Worlds amidst the heat of second-semester midterms. In 1988, Wylie returned from Olympic tryouts to take a Governments 30 exam. This year, Wylie partially blames his rough run at the World Championships on the fact that he had to leave for Munich the same day that he was taking a Japanese language midterm.

The day-to-day demands are even worse. During training, Wylie must travel 40 minutes each way to Acton, Mass. for practices that are often four hours long. In addition, the "Eat-To-Win" diet has proven difficult to keep up in the Eliot House dining hall.

At times, there has been the danger of burning out. In 1990, in the aftermath of the Olympic experience, Wylie was about to quit figure skating for good because his results had plateaued and he wanted to get more involved in the school environment.

"After the Olympics, there seemed to be nothing I could do for another four years that would mean the same to me," Wylie says.

The amazing thing is that Wylie has managed a lot of school involvement despite his time-consuming skating career. He has played a large role in the organization of the annual Evening for Champions skating benefit for the Jimmy Fund for cancer research, which this year raised $145,000. Each year, Wylie has used his connections to attract such luminaries as Brian Boitano, Dorothy Hamill, and Tai Babilonia and Randy Gardner to Bright Center.

In 1988, Wylie made a made-for-TV movie with a fellow Harvard classmate called "Breaking the Ice" that dealt with adolescent isolation. The program focused on a figure skater-- played by Wylie--who wanted to switch allegiances to hockey in order to gain popularity and friends.

While Wylie insists the movie was not a life story, there is a shade of truth in the fact that at Harvard, Wylie in little-known compared to the virtual celebrities on the Crimson hockey team. This year, Harvard Athletic Director Bill Cleary awarded Wylie an honorary varsity letter for his contributions to Harvard athletics.

It is tough to match Wylie in person to the world-class athlete that he is. His small 5-ft. 4-in., 123-lb. frame is far from imposing. His modest, friendly personality does not seem fitting for someone who wears an Olympic ring on his right hand. All in all, Wylie refuses to be singled out for his accomplishments.

"The thing that's great about Harvard is that everyone has something that they're very good at. I'm not singled out at all," Wylie says. "It's a community of excellent performers in many different fields."

"He gets a few more phone calls and a little more mail than us, but besides that he's a very normal roommate," Al Wolf says. "The only thing that's been really different is watching his on TV and saying, 'Hey that's my roommate.'"

Wylie could make a living for a long time off his talents on the ice, but he has different aspirations. At Harvard, Wylie is a government concentrator with an interest in eventually attending Harvard Business School.

For now, however, Wylie wants to make another run at the Olympics. Tryouts for Albertville take place in Orlando, Florida in January. Immediately following graduation, Wylie will begin training on Cape Cod, although he hopes to get a part-time business job as well.

"You never know if you'll make the Olympics," Wylie says. "There are no guarantees for me at all."