St. Louis – Michelle Kwan’s former coach said Thursday night he doesn’t think she should skate at the Four Continents Championships in Colorado Springs this month and instead should heal and get in shape for the Olympics.
Frank Carroll thinks the United States Figure Skating’s International Committee will uphold Kwan’s petition and give her an Olympic berth despite a groin injury that sidelined her for the U.S. Figure Skating Championships here this week.
The committee could examine her and watch her program before submitting the final Olympic roster Jan. 30. Kwan said she hasn’t thought about proving she’s healthy at the Four Continents, scheduled for Jan. 25-28 at World Arena.
“I’m not sure Michelle should prepare to test her body at the Four Continents when she should try to heal and recover for the Olympic Games,” Carroll said. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”
Carroll is in an awkward situation because he coaches Beatrisa “Bebe” Liang, who is third after Thursday night’s short program. If the standings hold after Saturday’s free skate and Kwan is awarded one of the three Olympic berths, Liang would get bumped.
“I don’t think Bebe will feel that way,” Carroll said of Liang. “Bebe is fair. Michelle was fair in ’94.”
Ironically, Kwan was knocked off the 1994 team when defending national champion Nancy Kerrigan was awarded a berth after Tonya Harding’s husband ordered a hit on Kerrigan’s knee during the U.S. Championships in Detroit. Kerrigan won the silver medal that year in Lillehammer, Norway. Kwan was the alternate in those Olympics.
“We were standing by because we thought Tonya Harding would be charged as a felon,” Carroll said.
Carroll said there’s a chance this year’s alternate could skate in the Turin Olympics.
“I don’t think (Kwan) would go if she wasn’t ready,” he said.
Jahnke seventh
Ryan Jahnke, a Grosse Point Farms, Mich., native who has trained in Colorado Springs since 1999, scored 67.39 to stand seventh after the men’s short program. He is 6.64 out of third.
“Sometimes expectations get a little intense,” Jahnke said. “And I really wanted to enjoy it this time around and not be so concerned with expectations, because I tend to do my best when I’m not really expecting it.”
Springs athletes strong
Ryan Bradley and Parker Pennington, also of Colorado Springs’ Broadmoor Skating Club, had solid short programs. Bradley, who skated only once last year because of a broken arm and broken foot, scored 69.33 to rank sixth. Pennington scored 64.86 and is in 10th. Erica Archambault, another Broadmoor entry, is also coming off an injury, plus an illness, and is 13th at 40.73.
Jahnke to rule on Kwan
After Jahnke finishes his free skate Saturday, he has another huge responsibility. He’s one of the athletes on the International Committee, which will decide Kwan’s fate. He said he hasn’t made a decision.
“I’m still pretty fluid on it,” Jahnke said. “There are whole different sides. There’s the athlete side and what’s-good-for-the-sport side. I’m excited to hear what the other top officials like (committee chairman) Bob Horen have to say about it.”
