Ask Phil Hersh

Currently in the hot seat is Phil Hersh from the Chicago Tribune. An Olympic beat columnist and reporter who also contributes to the Los Angeles Times, Hersh has extensively covered the sport of figure skating since the 1980s, and is one of the only journalists still covering the major athletes and events outside of the Olympic season.

In his Globetrotting blog for the Tribune, he recently wrote "Jeremy Abbott, 23, of Colorado Springs has a shot at replacing two-time national champion Evan Lysacek and three-time national champion Johnny Weir as the leading U.S. men's figure skater heading into the 2010 Olympics."

The Seattle Times recently called Hersh "the dean of America's figure-skating journalists" in a column about Spokane hosting the 2010 U.S. Championships. Respected throughout the journalism world, the German sports publication, Sport Intern, has named Hersh among the 100 most influential people in world sports for the past 10 years.

Over his career, he has had one-on-one conversations with the sports biggest stars including Figure Skaters Online's Lysacek and Weir. He has also chatted with former icons including Sasha Cohen, an Olympic silver medalist, and America's most decorated skater Michelle Kwan.

Hersh grew up in Boston but has lived in Evanston, Ill., since 1977. He graduated from Yale University with a B.A. in French and a specialization in early 19th Century French literature before venturing into sports journalism.

To submit your questions for Hersh, please use the form at http://figureskatersonline.com/extras.html#interviews.

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