U.S. getting to know champs Lysacek, Davis

VANCOUVER, B.C. -- Two Chicago-area Olympic champions benefited more than any other U.S. OIympians in national name recognition from their triumphs at the Vancouver Winter Games that ended Sunday.

Figure skater Evan Lysacek of Naperville had the greatest boost and speedskater Shani Davis the second largest, according to online polling Feb. 22-24 by Turnkey Intelligence of New Jersey.

Lysacek was recognized as a member of Team USA by 47 percent of respondents, up from 16 percent a week earlier, before winning his gold medal.  Davis, who won gold and silver medals for the second straight Olympics,  went to 40 percent recognition from 20 percent in the earlier poll. 

The poll surveyed 313 people whom Turnkey said were representative of the U.S. population, with an emphasis on those who identified themselves as either avid or casual fans of the 2010 Olympics.

Photo: Shani Davis (left) and Evan Lysacek both brought home gold for the U.S. (Martin Bureau and Christopher Polk/Getty).