Healthy and Prepared, Cohen Sets her Sights on State Farm U.S. Championships
Laura Fawcett

But at the very least, Cohen is confident about one thing – her preparation and training leading up to the big event.

“I've been preparing physically much harder,” she told the media during a pre-championships teleconference Monday afternoon. “I've been pushing myself to a new level of training. I'm more confident.”

Cohen said she's left no stone unturned in preparing for the U.S. Championships and a possible spot on the U.S. Olympic Team. She's been reviewing her programs, reading rules and working with technical specialists to ensure her programs take full advantage of the new judging system. She's also made some changes to her free skate to “Romeo and Juliet.” Cohen flew to Canada this fall to work with choreographer David Wilson.

“He tried to get a theme going in the program,” said Cohen, who added that Wilson changed the opening music and choreography of the program. “He created suspense, and it gives the program a little more variation and depth.”

Cohen skated a modified version of her free skate at the 2005 Marshalls U.S. Figure Skating Challenge last month in Boston. It was only the third time she performed a version of her free skate this season (Campbell's Classic and Trophee Eric Bompard being the others). A hip injury forced her to miss her opening Grand Prix assignment at Smart Ones Skate America.

The injury appears to be a thing of the past, judging both by her performance at the Marshalls Challenge and her confidence.

“I'm feeling really good right now,” she said. “I'm not concerned with the past. I've put my short program and long program out there, and I've gotten the feedback I needed.”

Cohen told reporters that she has been doing a lot more on-ice training over the last couple of months. But instead of doing full run-throughs, she has been doing parts of her programs over and over in an effort to make every element shine. Cohen admitted she may not have put as much effort into her training in previous years.

“I feel like I've never been as prepared as I could or should have been,” she said, adding that the lack of preparation was one of her weaknesses. “[I didn't have] enough confidence and was afraid of making mistakes. I always tried to be perfect … now I'm not going to let the fear of not being perfect [hurt me].”

Cohen returned from Trophee Bompard determined to make some changes in her training. She wanted to improve her grades of execution on her jumps, get both of her footwork sequences up to level 3 and make sure all her spins were level 4.

While many eyes are already on the Olympics, Cohen has her sights set on the U.S. Championships.

“Nationals are important to me for two reasons,” she said. “One, a title would be very fulfilling for me, and I've never really skated my best at nationals.”

However, even with nine-time U.S. champion Michelle Kwan recovering from injury, Cohen does not consider a U.S. title a lock for her.

“I don't really take anything for granted at the national championships,” she said. “I have a lot of silvers and would like a gold. Michelle is a strong skater and you can't count anyone out. I don't consider myself to have anything on a platter.”

After the U.S. Championships, Cohen could face the world's best in Torino, Italy. But she knows even if she goes, she won't be facing one of this year's hottest skaters, Mao Asada, who has been knocking off triple Axels with ease. Asada did not meet the age deadline to be eligible for the Olympics.

“I think the age restriction is unfortunate,” Cohen said. “People are at their best at all different ages in a career. It [Asada's ineligibility] makes it easier for the rest of us, but for Mao it's hard to miss the Olympics when you are at your peak. Everyone has a different window of opportunity.”

For Cohen, that window of opportunity may be just around the corner.

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