On October 16, 2008, Lambiel was forced to retire from competitive skating due to a recurring injury ... In July 2009, he announced his return to competition, with the hope of winning the Olympic gold he missed in 2006 ... In 2005, he became the first Swiss man to become world champion since Hans Gerschwiler in 1947; by defending his title the next year, he became the only Swiss man to win two world titles ... His role models are Todd Eldredge for his career, Alexei Yagudin for his personality, and Evgeni Plushenko for his technique ... He sat out the 2007 European Championships ... He won his second Grand Prix Final in December 2007.