Plenty of headliners in Cohen's absence
LAKE PLACID, N.Y. -- There's only one U.S. stop on the pre-Olympic figure skating express before the end of the year, and when 2006 silver medalist Sasha Cohen disembarked from the train, it took some of the steam out of Skate America.
One of six annual Grand Prix events in the series that culminates with the prestigious final in Tokyo, Skate America was to have been the venue for an intriguing showdown between Cohen, 25, and reigning world champion Yu-Na Kim of South Korea. It was arguably a better matchup on paper than it would have been on the ice. Cohen came out of retirement this year after more than three years away from competitive figure skating but has yet to test herself in front of judges. In a not entirely surprising development, Cohen withdrew from the second and last of her Grand Prix assignments this week, citing the same calf injury she said prevented her from skating at the Trophee Eric Bompard in Paris last month.
Meanwhile, the 19-year-old Kim continues to demonstrate why she is favored to win Olympic gold in Vancouver next February. Kim dominated in Paris, picking up where she left off in the 2008-09 season and setting an overall scoring record. She shouldn't have trouble adding another title to her haul this weekend.
But for the rest of the ladies' field -- especially two younger Americans vying for two precious spots on the U.S. team -- Skate America will be another step in a crucial sorting and honing process. Here's a quick look at the ladies', men's, pairs and dance competitors in action Friday through Sunday:
Kim's presumed coronation could be accompanied by some spirited jousting for the other two spots on the podium. Seventeen-year-olds Rachael Flatt, a two-time U.S. silver medalist, and Alexe Gilles, a former U.S. junior champion skating in her first senior Grand Prix series, have the most to gain with good performances here. Talented but erratic Elene Gedevanishvili, 19, of the Republic of Georgia, now coached by Robin Wagner and former U.S. star Elaine Zayak in New Jersey, is another one to watch. Cohen's vacant slot was filled by Harvard student and 2006 Olympian Emily Hughes, 20, who is reprising her familiar role of wild card. The sister of 2002 gold medalist Sarah Hughes competed in Turin (and finished seventh) following Michelle Kwan's late withdrawal. Rounding out the field are several seasoned Europeans and Japan's 28-year-old Fumie Suguri, who finished fourth at the '06 Olympics but is struggling to regain her old form.
Men
World champion Evan Lysacek, 24, is clearly the class of this bunch, and the Chicago-area native will be looking to reassert himself before a home crowd after finishing second at his first Grand Prix event of the season, the Cup of China in Beijing. His chief competition should come from 23-year-old Tomas Verner of the Czech Republic, the 2008 European champion. The U.S. also will be represented by two Colorado-based skaters, veteran Ryan Bradley, 25, and up-and-comer Brandon Mroz, 18, the U.S. silver medalist. Keep an eye on France's Florent Amodio, 19, who is intent on escaping the shadow of his countryman, former world champion Brian Joubert -- a medal contender in Vancouver who isn't competing here. Two Canadians promise to entertain: human pretzel Shawn Sawyer, 24, and 19-year-old Vancouver homeboy Kevin Reynolds, whose free skate program is set to a classical arrangement of a Led Zeppelin medley.
Pairs
Two Chinese pairs looking to add to their Olympic hardware should duke it out in what could be a harbinger of things to come in Canada. The sport's "old" married couple of Xue Shen, 31, and Hongbo Zhao, 36, is bidding to participate in its fourth Winter Games and improve on two previous bronze medals. Turin silver medalists Dan Zhang and Hao Zhang -- 24 and 25 respectively, and not related -- will try to overcome their compatriots. Back-to-back U.S. champions Keauna McLaughlin, 17, and Rockne Brubaker, 23 -- who were second at Skate America last year -- may need the fuel of a home crowd to propel them to third place this time. They'll also have to execute well to top Ukrainians Tatiana Volosozhar, 23, and Stanislav Morozov, 30; both teams finished third in Grand Prix events earlier this season.
Dance
Who could have predicted that the U.S. would become such a force in ice dancing? At least four teams have a shot at the three Olympic slots, and two of those tandems will be on display in Lake Placid. The continued excellence of Turin silver medalists Tanith Belbin, 25, and Benjamin Agosto, 27, also runners-up at this year's world championships, all but guarantees them a repeat trip to the Winter Games. They should be able to handle the expectations that come along with five previous Skate America titles. Kim Navarro, 28, and Brent Bommentre, 25, who train at the same suburban Philadelphia rink as Belbin and Agosto, are decided dark horses for Vancouver and will try to make a statement here. Russia's Jana Khokhlova, 24, and Sergei Novitski, 28, are the current European champions and Italy's Anna Cappellini, 22, and Luca Lanotte, 24, form another world-class team that will contend for the podium.
Bonnie D. Ford covers tennis and Olympic sports for ESPN.com. She can be reached at bonniedford@aol.com.
