Catching the Olympic fever a year early, a rested, excited Sasha Cohen said today that she couldn’t resist another shot of the Olympic challenge.
After taking three years off from competitive skating, the 2006 silver medalist is back training for her third Olympic team. She has a new coach. She’s looking for a new choreographer.
And Cohen, 24, has a whole new attitude.
“I’m in a different place, definitely,” said Cohen during a conference call from Calgary today where she’s appearing with Stars on Ice. “This one I’ll be a lot more nervous as the months go by. But at this point, I’m real excited to have this purpose in my life again.
“It’s my third Games. I know what it’s like. I know how amazing it is. I love the whole tidal wave pushing you to the Olympic Games. I love the way America supports its Olympic athletes. I love the way everyone loves watching figure skating in the Olympics. The country comes together to support you. The whole magic behind the Olympic Games is absolutely incredible.”
However, the road back won’t be easy.
Because of the United States’ weak showing at Worlds, the U.S. has only two spots for the Vancouver Olympics. She’ll be competing against Rachael Flatt, 16, the Colorado Springs skater who’s a two-time national runner-up and fifth-place finisher at Worlds; and Alissa Czisny, 21, the American champion.
“I’m very surprised, actually,” Flatt said. “I think she’s going to be a great competitor the rest of this year. It’s definitely good motivation. It’ll be nice to get another good competitor for the rest of the season, for the international circuit and nationals.
“Let’s see what else happens.”
During the World Championships in March, Cohen told The Denver Post of a possible comeback, that, “As long as I’m healthy and competitive and feel the same way I’ll decide to do it.”
After skating in ice shows for three years and taking acting classes, she realized she had the competitive fire and skill to compete at the highest level again. She’s the 2006 national champion, five-time U.S. runner-up and two-time world runner-up.
“I realized how much I miss competitive skating and I felt like I had one more Olympics in me,” she said. “I wanted to go through training and challenge myself. I feel I have a lot left in me that I can work on and improve on and even be a better skater than the last two Olympic Games.”
Part of Cohen’s optimism is based on trips to Lake Arrowhead, Calif., to see coach Rafael Arutunian, a former Soviet skater who has worked with Michelle Kwan and Mao Asada.
Cohen and Arutunian have known each other for nine years. She’s taken lessons and received advice about skates. When she spent more time with him last summer, she realized she could still compete at the top level.
“I saw how much I was improving and learning and absolutely loved training all over again,” Cohen said. “I felt like I was 10 years old learning to skate all over again. I knew it was a good fit. I just knew.”
Cohen’s next competition will likely be Skate America Nov. 12-15 in Lake Placid, N.Y.
“This is my last chance to do something like this again,” she said, “and I didn’t want it to pass me by.”
John Henderson: 303-954-1299 or jhenderson@denverpost.com.
