Figure skating Olympic champion Evan Lysacek is rumored to be dating Olympic gymnast Nastia Liukin, who is in Vancouver to support him at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. Evan won the gold medal on men’s figure skating on Thursday (February 18).

People Magazine confirmed the two Olympic champions, who met on NBC’s special Skating & Gymnastics Spectacular back in October 2008, have been dating since last summer. The story has been retracted. An article of their close friendship now replaces the love story.

Nastia said, “We met a couple of years ago at a gymnastics and skating show. We’ve gotten to know each other really well and [are] able to connect because there’s nothing like the Olympics. We both know what it takes to try for the ultimate dream of being an Olympic champion.”

“We just became really good friends and become really close since then,” adds Nastia. They attended the ESPYs together last July, and in August, Evan went to Dallas to cheer on Nastia during her gymnastics comeback at the U.S. Nationals. “It was cool but nerve-racking watching her compete – to be on the balance beam like that? For me, it’s easier to do it then watch it,” says Evan.

Nastia tells that finally watching her dear “friend” win the medal was amazing but that she was nervous. Evan also recognized he could not have done it without Nastia’s help.

“She been so helpful to me,” adds Evan. “She has been through it herself. If I’m having a bad day, she tells me to have faith and to keep going. Sometimes your support system has more faith in you than yourself. And when she tells me things are going to be fine, I really believe it.”

That sounds pretty much like love to me! Evan is probably not in love with Nastia yet but a close relationship like the two seem to share is bound to develop into something more serious. In a recent interview for ET, Evan said, “I’m single. I haven’t had any time for dating while I’m training. I’m lonely.”