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SkateFan4Life
Guest
euterpe said:Sasha worked hard under Robin and it would seem there were immediate successes: winning the Nationals SP and her first World medal. But apparently, to Sasha, winning is winning only when it's the TITLE. I had a feeling that when Sasha did not win the World Championship, Robin's days as her coach were numbered. And so it came to pass.
Sasha will work hard under Nicks now, but she is so far behind that it's going to be tough to catch up. And with her fragile back, pushing too hard is not the answer. The only way things can work out for her is if she takes a longer view and not insist on winning it all now, but gear up for Torino. The question is can she change that winning-is-everything mindset.
I agree with your views. Sasha seems to view that anything less than first place is a "failure". She has a perfectionist attitude, and she wants to be the best. She, the media, the USFSA, and her fans, have such high expectations for her, due to her enormous talent, that anything less than first place is regarded as a disappointment. There's nothing disgraceful in winning silver and bronze medals at US Nationals and silver at Worlds - unless you happen to be Sasha Cohen.
I think Sasha needs to focus her sights on Torino and pace herself so that she will peak in January/February 2006. For this upcoming season, she just needs to skate well and qualify for the World Team. Her back injury may not be completely healed, and with the upheaval of moving and switching coaches at the last minute (before Nationals), it would be a victory for Sasha to just qualify for the World Team.
And, without being critical, I think Sasha needs to listen to John Nicks and follow his direction. She has been known to rebel against her coach's instructions, and she needs to put that aside for the time being. She needs to just focus and get back to training.
IMHO, of course.