Sasha impresses the USOC
as a symbol of 'Good Conduct'

February 26, 2006

Olympic Silver medalist Sasha Cohen is among five athletes selected by the United States Olympic Committee to receive the “Good Conduct” medal at the conclusion of the XX Winter Olympics at Torino, Italy.

Sasha had the misfortune of falling on her opening jump in the freeskate on Thursday night but still got up and delivered a magnificent performance that earned her the silver medal.

It was Sasha’s typical never-give-up attitude and professional conduct after seeing a gold medal slip away that was so impressive.

“It’s our responsibility to be good role models and care about the way we make our country proud.” Sasha said. “It’s our responsibility to have other people respect our actions.”

Selena Roberts of the New York Times wrote of Sasha’s Olympic Spirit award: “Some like Cohen get it (i.e. the Olympic Spirit). True, she won silver, but she would not blame injury and would not not indulge in self-pity. No public tantrum or tears.

“Amid the disappointment of Thursday, Cohen stayed true to a high level of grace and refreshing perspective.”

Sasha has been overwhelmed with letters and e-mails of support since her free skate performance.

It appears her graciousness has made her more of a heroine from young children, teens, adults, elderly and especially the military than before the Games.

Staff Sergeant Vinson E. Batie of the U.S. Army sent Sasha an e-mail that summarized most of the world’s feelings toward one of America’s brightest and genuine stars on and off the ice.

Wrote Batie: “I am a soldier in the US Army and I am seeking nothing but the chance to tell (Sasha) thank you for what you are doing in Torino, Italy. I have spent 17 years of my life in service to the citizens of the United States and plan to spend another 5 years then retire. It is people like you, as I have always said, that make my service despite the toils and dangers I face, worthwhile.”

Sasha to appear on Leno

February 26, 2006

Sasha Cohen, who appeared on the Jay Leno Tonight Show as the U.S. Champion, is tentatively scheduled to appear Tuesday night, Feb. 28.

This time it will be as Olympic Silver medalist that Sasha will be on Leno’s show.

Sasha attended the Closing Ceremony at the XX Winter Olympics Sunday and is scheduled to fly back to the U.S. Monday.

Sasha didn't wear the red nose given by the International Olympic Committee as an option to wear at the Closing Ceremony. "I didn't feel like Rudolph tonight," Sasha said with a laugh when interviewed on NBC during the ceremonies.

Will Sasha have a red nose
at the Closing Ceremony?

February 25, 2006

Will Sasha be sporting a red nose at Closing Ceremonies?

Olympic silver medalist Sasha Cohen is scheduled to be at the Closing Ceremony of the XX Olympic Winter Games Sunday evening at Stadio Olimpico.

The big question is will Sasha have a red nose?

Each athlete will be given a red clown nose that organizers hope they will wear as they enter the stadium Sunday night.

The athletes will be honored guests, but they also will be part of the cast of what is being described as “Opera di Chiusura,” or “Opera of the Carnival.

Organizers are likening the ceremonies to a carnival, but the overall program could make for an opera. There will be elegant costumes, two orchestras, garish masks, acrobats, and a secret personality from the world of sports who will extinguish the Olympic flame.

“There will be hints of opera and hints of the old comedy right after the Renaissance. It’s a carnival opera.” Marco Balich described the theme as linking athletic prowess to art. “The athletes will be part of the show and spectators at the same time,” Balich said.

The audience will be provided paper masks and will be invited to participate in the Closing Ceremony.

Organizers borrowed the idea from the 2004 Olympic Summer Games in Athens where the medal ceremony for the marathon was part of the closing ceremonies.

Andrea Bocelli, tenor with a pop vocation of world fame, who with his powerful and melodic voice has entranced audiences throughout the world, will enrich the Grand Finale of Torino 2006 with a never-before-performed
work of great impact and extraordinary emotional content.

The performance of this great tenor will be one of the strong points of the show, and will take place just before the Olympic Flame is extinguished.

Among the great stars of the show, Ricky Martin, the international superstar will surprise the worldwide audience with his incredible energy and Latin charm.

Torino organizers will hand over the responsibility of keeping the Olympic flag to organizers of the XXI Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver in 2010.

“Closing ceremonies are a little more loose as you know,” “It’s a mix, with carnival as the base,” said Andrea Varnier, TOROC managing director of image and events. “The athletes will enter all together and not divided by nations. The flags will enter first and the athletes together as a sign of a celebration. We’ll not be just saying goodbye, we’ll be saying see you in four years in Vancouver.”

Sasha to media: There's
too much to do to stop now

February 25, 2006

From Olympic wire reports

Olympic Silver Medalist Sasha Cohen held court with the media Saturday and said she was disappointed in not reaching her dream of winning the gold medal.

But Sasha, who stumbled and then got up to finish the most elegant program of the night, also said she is putting the competition into perspective.

"An Olympic medal is a huge accomplishment in itself, but I was definitely disappointed in my skating," Sasha told the media Saturday.

On Thursday, Sasha entered the women's Olympic free skate in the lead. She fell on her first jump and ended up second. Despite missing the opening Lutz combination and almost falling on a flip, Sasha still came within 7.99 points of winning the gold medal.

"There will be some painful thoughts for a while," Sasha said.

On the night of the competition, one of the Games' most recognizable athletes played down her faux pas, saying: "It's one night, four minutes and a piece of metal."

But two days later Sasha acknowledged the agony of second place.

"It was definitely a disappointment to not come through with an Olympic dream," Sasha said. "But you know, it's part of life, it's a cycle and you have to be able to move on."

While still on the podium Sasha remains in the limelight, a place the disarming brunette from Newport Beach loves to be.

"I honestly love the attention and I love media," Sasha said. "I love photo shoots and having fun with the media. Hopefully there will be lots of chances."

Since Thursday the media have mostly shown her stumble.

"I've seen a couple pictures of me falling -- you know, in the interviews they like to replay that. That was hard for me."

During an interview with Bob Costas on NBC after the gala skating event, Sasha answered his pointed questions with the inegrity and graciousness that endears her to skating fans world-wide.

Sasha says she wants to compete in the World Championships in Calgary next month and will return to the Olympics in Vancouver in 2010 if her body permits.

That makes her legions of fans very happy and especially the skating establishment that is counting on Sasha to carry the U.S. banner for years to come.

Sasha answered the most pressing questions of her fans sent to her Web site during the past two days -- will she skate at Worlds and will she continue to pursue her Olympic dream?

"Bodies are fickle and things change. All I can do is take it day by day. I think I have a lot more to improve, a lot more to do. So I definitely wouldn't want to give up now."

What will Sasha do when she returns home? "Get lots of sleep, relax, go shopping and have some sushi."

USA House cheers Sasha's gutsy
performance and silver medal

February 24, 2006

By U.S. Figure Skating Association

More than two hours after winning the silver medal Thursday night at the 2006 Olympic Winter Games, Sasha Cohen was greeted by family, friends and U.S. Figure Skating supporters at USA House.

There was no disappointment at a lost opportunity for gold – either from Sasha or the crowd.

Instead, the cheers were for a skater who rebounded after two difficult jumps to finish her program with strength and class. Her skate put her in second place, with Japan’s Shizuka Arakawa in first and Russia’s Irina Slutskaya in third. Sasha lost the gold medal by only 7.99 points.

Among the crowd at the USA House Thursday night were teammates Melissa Gregory, Denis Petukhov and Evan Lysacek, and 1956 Olympic champion Tenley Albright. Later, U.S. ladies Kimmie Meissner and Emily Hughes arrived after spending time with their families. Meissner finished the event in sixth, Hughes in seventh. 2002 Olympic champion Sarah Hughes joined in the festivities as well.

The silver wasn't the medal Sasha had dreamed about, but she realized the color of a medal isn't always the most important thing.

“It's one night – four minutes and a piece of metal,” she said. “It's more about the journey over the four years. It's not a one-night journey. In the process I learned a lot about myself and enjoyed it.”

Sasha faltered in the first 20 seconds of her program, when she fell on a triple Lutz (intended to be a Lutz-double toe-double loop combination) and stepped out of the following triple flip attempt (intended to be a triple flip-double toe). With a total score of 183.36, Cohen thought she would have no medal at all.

But only Arakawa posted a performance that could overtake her. And Slutskaya, skating last, succumbed to the pressure and landed only four triples.

After Sasha's initial fall she breezed through her “Romeo and Juliet” program, nailing her trademark spins and spirals and landing five triples.

“Bittersweet,” Sasha said of her performance. “I tried hard. I have no regrets. For that performance, silver is generous.”

It's Olympic Silver for Sasha!

February 23, 2006

Sasha Cohen won the Olympic silver medal Thursday at the XX Winter Olympics at Torino, Italy.

Skating second in the final group, Sasha got off to a slow start but finished extremely strong to finish on the Olympic podium.

The 2006 U.S. National Champion and now an Olympic silver medalist are two that have eluded Sasha for the past several years. She just finished out of the medals at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics.

"I'm really excited," Cohen said. "I think it was a gift. I'm very pleased."

The crowd was chanting U-S-A as Sasha took the ice for her free skate. With some final words with her coach, John Nick,s Sasha slowly took her starting position at center ice.

Sasha was stunning in her new red dress made of velvet and fashioned after her dress she won the U.S. Championship with last month.

Sasha fell on her opening Lutz that was to be a combination and stumbled with the triple flip.

After that it was vintage Sasha as she got into character performing to "Romeo and Juliet" the movie soundtrack by Nino Rota.

"I was very disappointed with my skate," Cohen said. "I definitely gave 100 percent in my effort, I gave it my all. So I have no regrets with that. But it just wasn't my night."

Sasha nailed her triple loop, triple flip-double toe combination, and triple toe-triple Salchow combination, triple Salchow and double Axel. Sasha performed her circular footwork superbly and did her signature spiral sequence that is unmatched. Her spins were typical Sasha -- gorgeous -- and ended the program to a rousing ovation.

She led after her freeskate and had to await the final skaters' marks to see her placement.

Sasha added some drama in the women's competition when she skipped both Wednesday practices. That led speculation to a possible groin or leg injury since she was seen walking with her leg wrapped in ice after the short program Tuesday night.

She had a good, light run-through and practiced her triple jumps, spirals, spins and some transitions.

Final tuneup is a good one

February 23, 2006

Sasha’s Thursday morning practice featured a light run-through of her program before working on her triple jumps, spirals and spins. Her spins were consistent and her spirals were solid.

An apparent equipment problem took Sasha off the ice for a brief time. She returned and worked on her footwork and presentation.

Sasha didn’t attend either practice Wednesday, which led to speculation that she was nursing a groin injury.
Not so, said her coach John Nicks. "She has occasional muscle problems and uses a lot of ice. There is nothing untoward. She has a few aches, a few pains, as we all do when we get older.''

Sasha had her right leg wrapped Tuesday night and wore an ice pack after the short program.
Nicks said Sasha skipped her practices because she was tired from getting back to the athletes’ village late Tuesday night. She had a difficult time falling asleep. When Sasha did it was a restful sleep.

Nicks said at first, "I thought she should practice. Then, when I heard of her rest issues, I thought she shouldn't do it.

"We have an understanding of what is good for her and what produces good results,'' Nicks said.

Sasha has new red velvet dress

February 22, 2006

Sasha Cohen will debut a new red velvet dress for Thursday night’s free skate event at the XX Winter Olympics.
Sasha designed the dress and Jan Longmeier made it and added the beading.

“It’s a little different,” Sasha said before leaving for the Olympics. “We’ve added a little more sleeves to make it a little different from the gold dress I previously wore for the free skate. And there is slightly different beading.”
Longmeier has produced theatre costumes in California for plays and some movie actresses and actors.

Sasha and Longmeier got together after several attempts by east coast designers didn’t produce the results that Sasha expected.

Sasha has already practiced in the dress and has given it her seal of approval. “I always will skate a complete run-through in a new dress to see if it needs alterations,” Sasha said.

“We take pictures to see what I look like when I skate in a new dress,” Sasha said. “It gives me a perspective of looking at myself and seeing if I like what I see.”

Sasha and Longmeier also collaborated on the gold dress Sasha wore in winning the national championship in January.

Sasha’s short program dress was debuted at the Nationals and she wore it Tuesday night during her winning performance at the Olympics. The dress was hand-dyed and additional beads were added to it.

The previous free skate dress Sasha wore was a hand-dyed, buttery chiffon costume that she designed along with dressmaker Longmeier. “I love my new dress. I put a lot of thought and work into it,” Cohen said. “It’s exactly what I wanted, in terms of the color and the style and the fit.” The music to Sasha’s free skate is to Nina Rota’s 1968 soundtrack of “Romeo and Juliet”. She said the red velvet dress will help put her in a modern Juliet character.

Sasha wins Olympic short!

February 21, 2006

Wow!

Skating last and with the crowd at the Palavela waving U.S. flags and chanting “USA! USA! loud enough to rock the arena, U.S. National Champion Sasha Cohen delivered one of her most dynamic and memorable short programs in her career.

"I just believed in myself," Cohen said. "To have something like this come out is really great. I am going to believe in myself and expect the best."

The judges were dazzled and the crowd gave Sasha as big or bigger ovation than Carolina Kostner, Italy’s home for a medal, when the American was announced.

Sasha has 66.73 points, earning 35.33 for total elements and 31.40 for components. The total is still just over four points less than her best ever produced.

“I definitely don’t feel flawless,” she said. “I felt like it was strong, and I made it happen. But it definitely wasn’t flawless.”

Sasha holds a minute lead, .003 over World Champion Irina Slutskaya the designated favorite coming into the competition.

“It’s wonderful,” Cohen said. “First of all it means so much to skate well, and then to be rewarded on top of that is icing on the cake. Especially coming in second to Irina last year at Worlds, it meant a lot to be on top.”

Cohen received negative grades of execution (GOEs) on her opening triple Lutz-double toe combination and on her double Axel, in which she skidded on the landing. She received two coveted positive 3 GOEs on her spiral step sequence.

Jump by jump – triple Lutz-double toe loop was perfect; a difficult transition before her triple flip was brilliant and the final jump, a double Axel, was the exclamation point on Sasha’s sensational jumps.

Skating to “Dark Eyes” a Russian folk song, Sasha combined her jumps with solid footwork, exquisite spirals She was so zoned in on the straightline steps the audience was applauding throughout.

Sasha’s layback spin, by which all others are judged, and a newly-added Biellman culminated her program.
And when the program was over: Sasha headed to center ice pumping her fist listening to a roaring crowd that was pro-Sasha on this evening.

When the marks were posted Sasha and her coach, John Nicks, cheered the placement.

"When the numbers came up, I wasn't sure where I would be," Cohen said. "To be in first, it was like `Wow, I did it, the judges did it. We did it together."

Sasha sold the program to the judges and crowd alike, with the crowd clapping to the beat of “Dark Eyes” throughout the program.

“This is a really fun program,” she said. “It’s a gypsy number … very seductive and playful. It’s about getting involved with the audience, the judges. That’s what I tried to do. I love the program, and when I compete and have people watching I love the attention. I feel my performance kicks up a notch.”

Sasha is also trying to break Russia’s dominance on figure skating golds at these games. No country has swept all four events, and the Russians already own three -- pairs, men's and dance.

Sasha drew the second spot in the six-woman final group Thursday night. Slutskaya will skate last.

Sasha ready to "give it her all"

February 20, 2006

2006 U.S. National Champion Sasha Cohen begins her quest for an
Olympic medal at the XX Winter Olympics at Torino, Italy Tuesday night.
Sasha is competing in her second Olympics. She finished just out of
the medals at the 2000 Salt Lake City Olympics with a fourth place finish
as a just-turned 17-year-old.

This year, Sasha, a two-time World Championship silver medalist, is
among the favorites to compete for an Olympic medal.

“I want to have a great time out there and enjoy it, give it my all
and go home feeling great about the whole experience,” Sasha said Monday.
“I’m not putting any pressure on myself to win or to be perfect. It’s about
enjoying the process.’ I feel like I’m one of those people who can feed off
the energy.”

Sasha has earned a medal at every event she has entered since
finishing fourth at the 2003 World Championships.

“For me, when I get to the venue and have the people and the
audience, my performance boosts up,” said Cohen, who was fourth at Salt
Lake City. “I skate at a much higher level. I’m one of those people that
feel like I can feed off the energy and be better. I love to perform.”
Sasha also had her last meeting with the media, a brief gathering in
the mixed-zone, as she left practice. “ I was just kind of warming up
everything,” Sasha said.

Sasha’s run-through of her short program Monday featured spins and
spirals. Sasha stuck to some footwork and spins and consulting with coach
John Nicks.

Sasha has made a point to practice without the swarm of journalists
that are hanging on her every word. She has had very little contact with
the media since arriving over a week ago. She and teammate Kimmie Meissner
in a private rink in Courmayeur, 90 minutes from Torino.

The draw was held Sunday and Sasha drew the last skate of all the
competitors. The short program is Tuesday and the free skate is Thursday.

Sasha has another 35-minute session on Tuesday morning.

“I'm definitely feeling great now,” Cohen said last week to worldwide
media. “I was proud of myself at nationals to be able to come through,
skate well, finish with a strong program, without having practiced at all
that week. It showed me how much I had in me, and that I'm stronger than I
think I am. That gives me a lot of confidence. I've trained really hard all
year, and I hope to finish up a strong season.”

Cohen’s flexibility and spiral sequences are unparalleled in ladies
figure skating today.

Robin Wagner, Sasha’s coach before returning to Nicks last year, said,
“(Sasha) looks real strong. She seems to be on a different place as far as
her confidence level and commitment. I’m keeping my fingers crossed.”

Sasha ready for competition to begin

February 20, 2006

2006 U.S. National Champion Sasha Cohen begins her quest for an Olympic medal at the XX Winter Olympics at Torino, Italy Tuesday night.

Sasha is competing in her second Olympics. She finished just out of the medals at the 2000 Salt Lake City Olympics with a fourth place finish as a just-turned 17-year-old.

This year, Sasha, a two-time World Championship silver medalist, is among the favorites to compete for an Olympic medal.

Sasha has earned a medal at every event she has entered since finishing fourth at the 2003 World Championships.

Sasha spent the first week of the Olympics training in a private rink in Courmayeur, Italy. She returned to Torino Sunday.

The draw was held Sunday and Sasha drew the last skate of all the competitors. The short program is Tuesday and the freeskate is Thursday.

“I'm definitely feeling great now,” Cohen said last week to world-wide media. “I was proud of myself at nationals to be able to come through, skate well, finish with a strong program, without having practiced at all that week. It showed me how much I had in me, and that I'm stronger than I think I am. That gives me a lot of confidence. I've trained really hard all year, and I hope to finish up a strong season.”

Cohen’s flexibility and spiral sequences are unparalleled in ladies figure skating today.

Sasha had two practice times scheduled Monday and another 35-minute session on Tuesday morning, about nine hours before the start of the short program.

Sasha will skate last

February 19, 2006

U.S. National Champion Sasha Cohen drew the last skating position for Tuesday’s short program at the XX Winter Olympics at Torino, Italy.

Sasha will practice at the Palavela, the Olympic ice, Monday in one of her final tune-ups before Tuesday’s short program.

The free skate is scheduled Thursday.

Sasha arrives!

February 11, 2006

Sasha Cohen arrived in Turin, Italy for the Winter Olympics today.

Sasha's mother, Galina, and coach, John Nicks, accompanied her. Fortunately, Sasha flew out in time to miss the scheduled snowstorm that was predicted to hit the East Coast late Saturday evening.

Sasha missed the opening ceremonies on Friday night. Sasha opted to spend the fnal week at home getting in as much intensive training as possible.

It also offered her the opportunity to put in any final adjustments to her progrms without the scrutiny of the world's media.

Sasha also had an opportunity to perform her long and free skate programs without the guidelines set up during Olympic practices, only allowing one runthrough with music.

"I wanted to spend the last week at home resting and training," Sasha said. "I also got to try out my new dress. I had one runthrough with it. Everything seems to be be in order. I am very happy with the dress."

Sasha went through the credentialing and athletes' processing before being driven to the Olympic Village.

"I am going to try to stay their. But if I decide it's better to stay outside the Village we have made contingency plans."

The first order of business for Sasha on Sunday morning will be to meet the world-wide media in a press conference. After that Sasha will get her first glimpse at the Palavela, where she will compete, in an afternoon practice.

Sasha meets the world's press

February 12, 2006

From U.S. Figure Skating Association

2006 U.S. champion Sasha Cohen met with the press Sunday morning in Torino, Italy, one day after arriving in the city for the 2006 Olympic Winter Games.

Cohen, a two-time World silver medalist, is a favorite leading into the ladies competition, which begins at the Palavela on Feb. 21.

“I always expect the best of myself,” Cohen said of her expectations of the competition. “That gives me the best platform to perform at my potential. I’ve been working really hard with the mental career, especially the past four years.

Hard work pays off. I’m proud of myself personally, and the huge accomplishments and improvements every year.”

These Olympics mark Cohen’s second. In 2002 she finished fourth. She has won four silver medals at the U.S. Championships, and won her first title at the 2006 event in January, despite battling the flu.

“I'm definitely feeling great now,” she said. “I was proud of myself at nationals to be able to come through, skate well, finish with a strong program, without having practiced at all that week. It showed me how much I had in me and that I’m stronger than I think I am. That gives me a lot of confidence. I’ve trained really hard all year, and I hope to finish up a strong season.”

Following the press conference Cohen practiced at the Palavela in the afternoon session. She will leave tonight to stay in Courmayeur, Italy, with U.S. teammate Kimmie Meissner. U.S. Figure Skating made private ice time at a rink in the city available to U.S. skaters from Feb. 11-16.

Cohen also fielded questions at the press conference regarding the withdrawal of Michelle Kwan due to an injury that was announced earlier in the morning.

“I think in a way it (Michelle’s withdrawal) kind of humanizes the sport,” Cohen said. “She is someone who has been an icon, always been there, and she always has competed and done well. To see that people can be at the top of a sport and still have hard times just humanizes it for other athletes to know that there are good times and there are bad times. You have to deal with what life gives you.”

The ladies short program takes place at 7 p.m. on Feb. 21.

Ladies schedule:

> Tuesday, Feb. 21, Ladies short program, 7 p.m. (Italy time), (2 p.m. ET)

> Thursday, February 23, Ladies free skate, 7 p.m. (Italy time) (2 p.m. ET)