Cohen skips Skate America, stalls comeback
Last Updated: Monday, November 9, 2009 | 1:21 PM ET
The Associated Press
Figure skater Sasha Cohen has withdrawn from Skate America, putting her comeback to the sport on hold. (Chitose Suzuki/Associated Press)Sasha Cohen has withdrawn from this week's Skate America, the latest setback in the Olympic silver medallist's comeback.
Cohen says she is still battling the tendonitis in her right calf that knocked her out of last month's Trophee Eric Bompard.
Emily Hughes, a member of the 2006 Olympic team, will take her place.
"I have been battling this injury for a while," Cohen said in a news release from U.S. Figure Skating. "I'm very disappointed I won't be able to compete in Lake Placid.
"I've been going to physical therapy and training with every intention of being healthy and ready for this competition."
Cohen said Monday that she still hopes to compete at the U.S. championships in January.
She also pulled out of last month's French Grand Prix with the same injury. She said at the time she was "confident" she'd be ready for Skate America.
With the American women having only two spots at the Vancouver Olympics and Cohen being out of competition for three years, she now would seem to be a long shot.
Although Cohen did triple jumps and many competitive moves while touring with Stars on Ice the last two years, she hasn't appeared before judges.
Her last competition was the 2006 world championships, where she won a bronze medal.
