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Kwan in US squad without touching ice
(China Daily)
Updated: 2006-01-18 06:59
Cohen automatically got a spot as the national champion.
Emily
Hughes | "It's a hard decision for whoever has to make it. I hope the best decision is
made," Cohen said before the decision was announced. "I know they worked hard
all year, and it would be nice for them to go since they earned their spots."
But Kwan has earned another shot at that elusive gold medal, too. Though she
has skated sparingly over the last few years and was fourth at the world
championships in March, she has been the face of figure skating for the last
decade.
And while she may not be the same skater who went to Nagano and Salt Lake
City as the gold-medal favourite, she remains a contender. Even though she
finished fourth at worlds, only Cohen has higher scores under the sport's new
judging system. Hughes' best finish at an international event was a bronze medal
at last year's junior worlds.
The committee also had a report from a doctor, who examined Kwan on Thursday.
The Olympic silver and bronze medallist jumped Friday for the first time since
December 17.
Cohen did not need any help from the selection. She earned it all on her own
with her very first national title. She finished with 199.18 points, more than
28 points ahead of second place Meissner.
"I've got a lot of silvers in different shoeboxes in
storage units all over the place. But I think the gold one will have a special
place," said Cohen, who could not take her eyes off the medal during the awards
ceremony.
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