L
Lcp88
Guest
Kwan and Hughes may not stick around for next year
Don't know whats wrong with the stupid link - here's the article:
"WASHINGTON — A message for those fans eagerly anticipating Michelle Kwan vs. Sarah Hughes at the World Figure Skating Championships this week: Enjoy it while it lasts. This could be the last time Kwan and Hughes go head-to-head in Olympic-eligible competition. Signs point to one or both of the top U.S. women making this the final chapter in their non-professional careers.
Sarah Hughes has indicated she may take some time off from skating to attend college.
The women begin competition today at the MCI Center with the qualifying free skate. Kwan and Hughes and the third U.S. skater, Sasha Cohen, all are expected to advance easily. The three ultimately could sweep the podium. Women's competition continues with the short program Friday and the long program Saturday.
Hughes, who won gold at last year's Salt Lake City Olympics, is going for her first world title. Kwan, the reigning Olympic bronze medalist, could win her fifth.
Neither skater competed much this season — Kwan out of choice, Hughes because of a leg injury that sidelined her through the international Grand Prix events.
"I felt a little empty, like, 'Now what should I do,' " Kwan says. "I sort of missed skating and that intensity. I was practicing, not sure where I was going to go, go to nationals or not or skate at all."
Kwan did go to nationals and earned her seventh U.S. title with a nearly flawless performance. But that didn't sharpen her focus about her skating future, which she says is still "day to day, month to month."
"It's tough to say what I'll be doing next year," says Kwan, 22, who in recent years has juggled classes at UCLA with skating practices and competitions.
Hughes has been accepted to attend Harvard this fall. She also has applications in at Yale, Columbia and Princeton. She has expressed interest in someday going to medical school.
"I've always been interested in having a well-rounded life," says Hughes, 17, who finished second at nationals with little preparation, "and I've enjoyed high school and I, of course, have an interest in going away to school and living in a dorm for a while. But for right now I'm not exactly sure. The world championships will be an important time for me in probably finalizing my decisions."
She didn't elaborate on what kind of a result would help clarify her direction.
Going into the Salt Lake Olympics, Kwan repeatedly hinted she might stay Olympic-eligible through the 2006 Games and possibly 2010. Now, she says, "I'll decide as I go along."
"For me, I think I have to take one thing at a time, enjoy life as well," says Kwan, whose goal of winning Olympic gold has twice eluded her. "It's too intense, and I've noticed that I do not do so well when I put that pressure on myself. I need to take one thing at a time, see how it goes. "
Ice dancers still on top:
Reigning world champions Irina Lobacheva and Ilia Averbukh of Russia and reigning world silver medalists Shae-Lynn Bourne and Victor Kraatz of Canada led their groups in Tuesday's compulsory dance.
The two U.S. teams, Tanith Belbin and Benjamin Agosto and Naomi Lang and Peter Tchernyshev, each finished fourth in their groups. The dance competition continues Thursday with the original dance. The dance final is Friday."
Any other news about whether or not they're going to return?
Sarah's still young - I think she should stay for a few more seasons.
Laura
Don't know whats wrong with the stupid link - here's the article:
"WASHINGTON — A message for those fans eagerly anticipating Michelle Kwan vs. Sarah Hughes at the World Figure Skating Championships this week: Enjoy it while it lasts. This could be the last time Kwan and Hughes go head-to-head in Olympic-eligible competition. Signs point to one or both of the top U.S. women making this the final chapter in their non-professional careers.
Sarah Hughes has indicated she may take some time off from skating to attend college.
The women begin competition today at the MCI Center with the qualifying free skate. Kwan and Hughes and the third U.S. skater, Sasha Cohen, all are expected to advance easily. The three ultimately could sweep the podium. Women's competition continues with the short program Friday and the long program Saturday.
Hughes, who won gold at last year's Salt Lake City Olympics, is going for her first world title. Kwan, the reigning Olympic bronze medalist, could win her fifth.
Neither skater competed much this season — Kwan out of choice, Hughes because of a leg injury that sidelined her through the international Grand Prix events.
"I felt a little empty, like, 'Now what should I do,' " Kwan says. "I sort of missed skating and that intensity. I was practicing, not sure where I was going to go, go to nationals or not or skate at all."
Kwan did go to nationals and earned her seventh U.S. title with a nearly flawless performance. But that didn't sharpen her focus about her skating future, which she says is still "day to day, month to month."
"It's tough to say what I'll be doing next year," says Kwan, 22, who in recent years has juggled classes at UCLA with skating practices and competitions.
Hughes has been accepted to attend Harvard this fall. She also has applications in at Yale, Columbia and Princeton. She has expressed interest in someday going to medical school.
"I've always been interested in having a well-rounded life," says Hughes, 17, who finished second at nationals with little preparation, "and I've enjoyed high school and I, of course, have an interest in going away to school and living in a dorm for a while. But for right now I'm not exactly sure. The world championships will be an important time for me in probably finalizing my decisions."
She didn't elaborate on what kind of a result would help clarify her direction.
Going into the Salt Lake Olympics, Kwan repeatedly hinted she might stay Olympic-eligible through the 2006 Games and possibly 2010. Now, she says, "I'll decide as I go along."
"For me, I think I have to take one thing at a time, enjoy life as well," says Kwan, whose goal of winning Olympic gold has twice eluded her. "It's too intense, and I've noticed that I do not do so well when I put that pressure on myself. I need to take one thing at a time, see how it goes. "
Ice dancers still on top:
Reigning world champions Irina Lobacheva and Ilia Averbukh of Russia and reigning world silver medalists Shae-Lynn Bourne and Victor Kraatz of Canada led their groups in Tuesday's compulsory dance.
The two U.S. teams, Tanith Belbin and Benjamin Agosto and Naomi Lang and Peter Tchernyshev, each finished fourth in their groups. The dance competition continues Thursday with the original dance. The dance final is Friday."
Any other news about whether or not they're going to return?
Sarah's still young - I think she should stay for a few more seasons.
Laura