Evan Lysacek and Kim Yu-na have discovered that the spoils of being a world champion are matched by the obligations. They're learning that their own high expectations might not measure up to those placed upon them by outsiders.

And if they're not careful, that can lead to impatience, stress, even mediocrity.

"I feel a little bit of pressure," says Kim, the 19-year-old South Korean who has revitalized women's skating with several surpassing performances this year. "My first competition (this season) was even better than the world championships and everyone expects me to do a clean competition. But I try to concentrate on me and my skating."

And when the skating isn't quite up to her unprecedented levels, as happened when she won Skate America earlier this month?

"Not every skater can achieve what they want every time," Kim says. "I was feeling the expectations from many people and was under pressure from that."

Her coach, Brian Orser, noticed it. Orser knows all about the duress top-level athletes operate under. He won the world crown in 1987, making him the favorite for the 1988 Olympics in Calgary. As a Canadian, he was energized by the home-ice advantage, if you will.

He also was stressed out by all the predictions he would become the first man from his nation to win Olympic gold in the sport.

He lost, barely, to American Brian Boitano.

"She recognizes the demands," says Orser, who trains Kim in Toronto. "You can't be sheltered from them or from all the expectations and that, because it's only going to be stronger and more of it in Vancouver.

"She takes comfort in knowing I have been through it before. I told her, 'There's nothing you are going through that I didn't go through.' She takes comfort in that. When I told her that and she understood, I could see her relax."

When Kim is relaxed on the ice, she blows away the competition and rewrites the records. Lysacek isn't quite so far in front of the men's field, but he _ and Kim _ also are recognizing that the world titles each won for the first time in March in Los Angeles can carry them to new heights of achievement. They get a belief that nothing is beyond their reach _ particularly when they reach Vancouver.

"I was worried if I would feel all that pressure to be a world champion," Kim admits, "but it was a good chance to get more confidence for me and to make me think (more highly) of myself and my skating."

Ditto, Lysacek says with a wide grin.