The Associated Press
Figure skater Michelle Kwan warms up while rivals Sasha Cohen (left) of the U.S. and Japan's Yoshi Onda look on Monday during practice for today's short program.

Everyone's watching Kwan

U.S. skater the favorite as short program begins

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Originally published Tuesday, February 19, 2002

SALT LAKE CITY -- Push aside all the controversy and scandal. Turn the attention back where it belongs, on women's figure skating.

And what better way to do that than with Michelle Kwan and her pursuit of Olympic gold, the only title she hasn't won.

Beginning with today's short program, Kwan will try to move up one step on the medals podium -- a goal that has driven her the past four years.

She brought her U.S. titles to six in those seasons, more than even Peggy Fleming or Dorothy Hamill. She increased her world championships collection to four; Carol Heiss is the only American with more.

But Fleming, Hamill and Heiss all won at the Olympics. Kwan was second to Tara Lipinski as the favorite in 1998.

She is the favorite again, but this time, she believes she is more prepared.

"The whole experience of just being a little wiser, a little calmer and also not taking it for granted, as well," said the 21-year-old Kwan, who unlike her chief rivals has been in Salt Lake City soaking up the Olympic experience for two weeks.

"It's a great moment in my life, and I'm really enjoying it."

Kwan has enjoyed competing so much she is talking seriously about remaining eligible until the 2006 Turin Games. By then, who knows how many championships she will own?

But many believe her career will be unfulfilled if she doesn't have an Olympic gold medal around her neck.

She's taken a difficult path toward accomplishing that goal. Kwan split with coach Frank Carroll in October and has coached herself since. She had an inconsistent season, including losses to chief rivals Irina Slutskaya and Sarah Hughes.

Still, this is the dominant skater of the last six years, a woman who tends to peak at just the right time.

She did so at nationals in January, and she seems relaxed, focused and ready for the challenges from Russians Slutskaya and Maria Butyrskaya, and Americans Hughes and Sasha Cohen.

"I don't really think about it too often," Kwan said of the recent struggles that faded with her superb performances at the U.S. championships. "You do your own thing on the ice. The preparation is not different than last time."

She hopes the result is slightly different, of course. And while Kwan's artistry is unsurpassed in the sport -- Butyrskaya comes closest -- her programs are not as technically difficult as her major opponents.

So if the Olympics become more of a jumping contest, Kwan could be at a disadvantage.

"Jumping will be a major issue in this competition," 1984 Olympic champion Scott Hamilton said. "The triple-triple combinations will be significant."

Kwan does only one of them.

Butyrskaya, whose practices in Salt Lake City have been very strong, considers the skate for gold wide open.

"The Olympics are like a lottery," she said. "You don't know what will happen."

Oddly, Kwan, Slutskaya and Butyrskaya all are in the same group for the short program, worth one-third of the total score. Butyrskaya goes 12th, Slutskaya is 13th and Kwan is 15th.

Hughes, who has avoided speaking to the media since arriving on Saturday, drew No. 5 overall, one spot in front of Cohen. Their practices have been spotty.

As for the home-ice advantage, Slutskaya doesn't buy it.

"I think people love how people skate, " she said, "not what country they are from."

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