TeenFX.com Interview with Sasha Cohen

GUEST:
0
FX Points

Back To Interview List

Sasha Cohen

You are a nationally ranked skater; what have been some of your major accomplishments and what major awards have you won in skating?

In 2000, I won the silver medal (second place behind Michelle Kwan) at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships. I also won my first medal at a Grand Prix international skating competition, and recently I received my first two perfect 6.0s. This year I won the gold medal at the Finlandia Cup in Helsinki, the bronze at Trophée Lalique in Paris and I placed 4th at the Goodwill Games. Since then, I have been in the 2002 Winter Olympics, a Silver Medalist at the 2004 World Figure Skating Championship, a Silver Medalist at the U.S. National Championship, and I'm looking forward to the 2006 Olympics. In the meantime, watch for my book in April 2005 - 'Fire On Ice'.

January 15, 2005: Sasha Cohen won her 3rd straight Silver Medal at the U.S. Championships. Congratulations from all your TeenFX fans !!

How did you first get involved in skating, and how old were you when you started?

Skating has always been a major area of interest to me. I’m a competitive person and I love the challenge of mastering new things. It seemed natural to get involved in skating. I was seven when I started skating. My goals now are to successfully complete new programs and master new jumps – like the quad.

What, or who, has had the most positive influence on your skating career?

My family has always been there to support me along the way. My coach, John Nicks, is a great influence.

Do you find it difficult to balance your training schedule and schoolwork?

I’m used to a very busy schedule. Right now it revolves around training and preparing for Nationals in January. I’m usually at the rink from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. and then I attend public school for two hours, three times per week. I also attend private school once a week for two hours. My academic schedule is lighter this year because it’s an Olympic year.

What are some of your favorite subjects in school and do you have any hobbies?

I like Economics. I have a great teacher at my high school, which makes it interesting and fun. When I’m not skating I like designing costumes, making jewelry, rock climbing, shopping or spending time with my friends. I don’t have time to watch TV, but when I do, I like to watch Friends and Will & Grace. I usually stretch or work out while I’m watching TV.

Do you follow a special diet when you are in training?

I eat a variety of foods like vegetables, fruit and beef for protein and iron. Nutrition is a very important part of everyone’s life – as well as exercise – because it gives you the fuel you need to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Some of my favorite foods are beef stew and tacos.

The night before I compete, I like to have steak. Meat is especially important for female athletes because it provides them with the nutrients they need to perform at their best. It’s a good idea to eat a variety of foods – foods that you love – in moderation. When I’m competing, I like to have eggs or cereal for breakfast, a roast beef sandwich – for extra energy on the ice – for lunch, and filet mignon for dinner.

I read that you have signature skating moves that have been named after you, what are they and how does that feel?

I worked with my coach to develop some new spiral variations to make my program more interesting. Each one is different and you’ll have to wait until January to see them. A few of our inventive moves turned out very well – the Sasha Skid, the Sasha Curl and the Sasha Spiral.

What are your new goals – in terms of artistry and technique/skill?

I want to be the first lady to land a quadruple jump in competition. As I grow older, I know that my skating style will develop and mature.

Have you been influenced by any famous figure skaters?

When I was 13, I saw Tara Lipinski win the Olympics and it really motivated me. Her win happened unexpectedly and it was a great motivating factor for me. I also became very serious about skating when Kristy Yamaguchi won the gold at the Olympics. I really admire Kurt Browning, Scott Hamilton and Kristy Yamaguchi.

Do you follow a strict fitness routine? If so, what kind, and when you are not competing or training, what do you do to keep in shape?

I skate about 15 to 20 hours a week and also incorporate a lot of off-ice training. I take ballet and Pilates classes and lift weights with my physical therapist when I’m not on the ice. Good nutrition keeps me going and gives me the energy I need to get through my day – that’s why I try to eat a variety of fruits, vegetables and carbs and get protein from meat. Of course, there’s always room for a little coffee ice cream too!

How does it feel to know that you might be representing the U.S. in the 2002 Olympic Games in Salt Lake City?

My training has been going really well these past few days and my goal is to keep it up for the next few weeks and hopefully earn a spot on the U.S. Olympic team. It’s a very exciting time right now – preparing for Nationals. Making the U.S. Olympic team has always been a dream of mine.

What advice would you give to any teenager who was thinking of pursuing a career in skating?

Follow your dreams, work hard, practice and persevere. Make sure you eat a variety of foods, get plenty of exercise and maintain a healthy lifestyle. A year ago I had a back injury and followed a good nutrition program to help speed up my recovery. I focused on exercise and staying healthy in order to get back out on the ice.

What advice do you have for girls who, like you, want to maintain peak performance?

I believe that to achieve your goals and feel good about yourself, there are two important things to remember: eat smart and stay in shape. Eating right by getting rich nutrients from foods like red meat builds my body and makes me feel great on the inside and outside. I hope to show girls that eating smart, without giving up their favorite foods, can help them be their best in all areas of their lives.

Photographs by Leah Adams

Post a Comment
	stephanie	11-10-09

ice skating is hard :{!!!


	Annette	08-28-08

OMG YOU ARE SO BEAUTIFUL MY NAME IS ANNETTE AND IF U WANT I WILL GIVE U MY NUMBER SO WE CAN TALK ABOUT SKATING AND WHEN DID U KNOW U WANTED TO SKATE


	Tammy	05-01-08

Figerskaters (boys) are totally !Know any of them?Come on hook me up,please?Super ,


	ellie	03-06-08

im thinking of starting figure skating but i dont know wether im too old to start my mum says i am but i dont yhink i am coz im 12


	Erica	01-15-08

i hav never herd of u sasha, but u must be good


	Shirley	09-06-07

hi sasha.. i think u're


	wyat	05-25-07

ur kinda flexable


	TRUST ME I'M PERFECT...(NOT)	11-20-06

op


	TRUST ME I'M PERFECT...(NOT)	11-20-06

op


	TRUST ME I'M PERFECT...(NOT)	11-20-06

no u are not perfect u are so ugle


	TRUST ME I'M PERFECT...(NOT)	11-20-06

i dont like youand how u skate


	Sydney	11-07-06

Wow, ur very good at skating! Do you ever come on the television? Are you thinking about entering the Olypics?


	Jessica	10-28-06

u r pretty


	BLT	09-24-06

Niice job


	Tamarra	07-25-06

I think you did great!


	Correy	06-26-06

I d your book and I am a great fan of yours!


	Seqoiyia	03-30-06

Hi Sasha I think you are an amazing skater!!! i think skating is the most beautiful soprt i have only been skaitng for about 2 yrs but i it so much i could never give it up!!!


	Chaleee	03-06-06

Great job sasha!!


	Claire	03-05-06

HEY SASHA!!! I am SUCH A HUGE FAN! I am getting FRONT ROW seets For your Champions on Ice in Hartford, CT!! YOU ARE SOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOO OOOOOOO OOOOOOO OOOOOOO OOOOOOO OOOOOOO OOOOOOO OOOOOOO COOL! I bought your autobiography fire on ice, today and I am on pagen 81! !!


	Shamy Shen	02-24-06

blue YOU ARE THE BEST PERSON EVER!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!! !!!!!!! !!!!!!! !!!!!!! !!!!!!! !!!!!!! !!!!!!! !!!!!!! !!!!!!! !!!!!!! !!!!!!! !!!!!!! !!!!!!! !!!!!!! !!!!!!! !!!!!!! !!!!!!! !!!!!!! !!!!!!! !!!!!!! !!!!!!! !!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


	Shamy Shen	02-24-06

You did great in figur skating!!!!!! !!!!!!! !!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!11


	Kelsey	02-09-06

Good Luck in the 2006 Olympics Sasha!


	becca	01-28-06

i like her too she is so good


	Seth	12-14-05

she is a good skater and I like her alot.


	Tessa	11-22-05

Any news on Sasha?


	Stephanie	09-02-05

I've always wanted to ice skate! it looks so awesome and to do but I don't know where or like when to sign up and stuff. and I have no training!!


	sarah	08-13-05

Sasha is an inspiration. I've skated with her in a few shows. One was Expressions On Ice II with my skating group Symphony On Ice. Good Luck Sasha!


	heather	06-09-05

Great job on ice Sasha, now to read your book. Good Luck!!


	natty	05-16-05

shut up nathan this is your sister laura she is mining any way best of luck sasha


	natty	05-16-05

you got leags


	Road-Roamer	05-12-05

I got to read your book Sasha, and I really appreciate your attitude- never give up. Keep going! And, after reading about your ice-skating experience, I really want ice in India, and ofcourse, Ice Skating. Good Luck with everything!!!, especially the Olympics!


	Staci	04-13-05

wow!! U have so much accomplished by just being a teenager!! Congatulations!!


	krystel	04-06-05

congrats


	Brittany	03-24-05

CONGRATULATIONS on being the Silver Medalist at the World Figure Skating Championships in Russia last week. You are some teenager.


	stephanie	03-16-05

never really watched you but now i look forward to watchin you...your really pretty...


	jaimie	02-27-05

i think your really pretty and an amazing skater


	Noel	02-04-05

She's pretty talented if you ask me


	Brad	02-03-05

Congratulations


	Benazia	02-01-05

GREAT JOB ON THE SILVER MEDAL!!!!!!!! !!!!!!! !!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


	girlz rock !!!!! like me tiff	01-29-05

sasha is a good skater but needs to get more hobbies


	Jana	01-17-05

Congratulations Sasha, you looked terrific and well deserved your silver medal. I Ioved your dress, it looked super on you. Go girl, right to the top!!


	tracey	12-13-04

i your skating it is my fav and i to watch it i cant wait to see more of you


	tracey	12-13-04

i


	Donny	11-22-04

Good Luck Sasha! Your are my favorite skater. Keep up the good work. Very interview.


	Juliett	11-18-04

I'm a figure skater too. Sasha is my insporation because her programs are always very intesting and the way she pulls off he jumps are amazing. I also like her because, her idols like mine, all have very different skating styles, and that is important to look at as a figure skater.


	Nancy	11-13-04

WOW! Sasha's my idol I the way she skates!


	Lena	10-05-03

wow. how kool. i have no idea bout ice skating, but this sasha gal, she's damn good and really gorgeous! well done girly! hehe


	saxy girl	07-25-03

Sasha has a beautiful talent for skating. I hope she keeps up the good work for many years!


	Carly	06-07-03

Yay Sasha!!!! youa re the best ice skater in the whole world, I watching you!!!


	beeba	06-03-03

hey SaSh U rOck!!!!!!!!!KeEp Up ThE GrEaT sKaTiNg!!!!!!!!!!! luv, U


	tracy	01-28-03

I watching ice skating. I can't ice skate, but I would to learn how.


	:::+California+:::	01-02-03

Awesome! I like ice skating a lot, although I'll never learn it. It's such a graceful sport and I admire all of the athletes who participate in it.


	Andrew	12-03-02

Congratulations on your huge success in Canada, France, and now Russia!!! You are fantastic. Good Luck next year at the 2003 Grand Prix Figure Skating Finals at St. Petersburg, Russia.


	LuNiChiCk for LiFe	11-20-02

Im a skater to , and i know its a lot of hard work , sasha has really inspired me to try my best in everything she awesome !


	~~~carrie~~~	08-03-02

YOU RULE SASHA!!


	Kelly	06-14-02

Yes, I agree. It is terrible to know that judges aren't honest, especially after the skaters devote their lives to it, the best one SHOULD win. I still enjoy skating though and hope things will change now that it has come out in the open at the Olympics this year. It is such a sprort to watch, especially when skaters chose to do a more none traditional peice.


	E	05-14-02

Don't you think it's annoying how skating judges sometimes cheat in such obvious ways?! My mom says when she was a kid and she would watch ice skating tournaments, she was always upset that the people she thought were the best never won. I agree. It seems so unfair.


	Joseph	05-14-02

Ice Skating is a really sport. You should be able to go far with it!


	Christine	05-09-02

HI SASHA! I saw you skate at the Champions on Ice skating show in Hartford, CT!


	TONYFLONY	04-20-02

You rock. I like that kind of sports. You are awesome


	Laura	04-16-02

how do we even know that she is really respinding and it's not just some body on this site trying to get our attention?


	Vanessa	04-14-02

Sasha you did really good at the olympics.Don't worry about not being number 1 because you will be there next year


	Diane	03-07-02

Sasha, you were so good in the Olympics!!! Don't give up on your dream because next time it will come true.


	Erin	02-27-02

I was watching you in the olympics and you were awsome! I can't believe you came in fourth. If you hadn't have fallen you could have won! I would have been so cool to have the US girl skaters come in first, second, and third place in the olympics. We will probably see you in four years. :)


	Charmelle	02-27-02

SASHA, YOU SEEM VERY DETERMINED AND YOU'LL GO FAR WITH THAT ATTITUDE. I WISH YOU THE BEST..


	Ashelea	02-26-02

hey sasha i think your skating is good i just wanted michelle kwan to really win, no offense but why do they talk more about you than the olympic medalists? you came in 4th and didnt win a medal. but still i think you will get better!


	Eve	02-24-02

COngrats on 4th in the Olympics....I really hoped Michelle would've won. It's her last Olympics! SHe had a great career tho! and I hope you have one as good as hers! Thanks!


	Erin	02-23-02

Sasha you looked fab! Next time the Gold will be yours. I loved watching you and think you are terrific!! Congrats on 4th place!!!


	~SeXyChIkA~	02-23-02

Good Job at the olympics its amazing you got 4th!CONGRATS AGAIN hope to see you at the olympics again in 4 years !


	Meghan	02-21-02

You skated awesome


	jake	02-16-02

Good Luck this Tuesday Sasha! Hope all your dreams come true. I love the ice skating and I will be cheering you on.


	bryan	02-02-02

that's cool


	marly	01-30-02

Great! this is really nice this interview


	Brittany	01-14-02

You are such an awesome person! Congratulations on your acceptance to the Olympics! We are truly an inspiration to all girls! Keep up the excellent work! I'll be cheering for you at the Olympics!


	~Chelsea~	01-13-02

~CONGRATULATIONS~ You seem dedicated and I like that. =)


	Janet	01-13-02

CONGRATULATIONS - you did it!!! How cool you are winning a Silver Medal in 2002 US Figure Skating Championships and making the US team for the Olympic games !!! Go Girl!!!


	Madison	01-12-02

Hi i love figure skating and your the best! I love you Sasha! Good luck in all your future compatitions


	jake	01-10-02

Thats so cool. I JUST saw you on a Chevy commercial. You look young. I hope you blow everyone away at the olympics.


	Jessica	01-08-02

hi! I've been ice skating since i was nine and am now 14. I don't have much time to practice so i am only in FS 3. I have an ISI competition in Feb. This is my first big competittion. since you are so awsome at what you do: Do you have any ideas on how to keep your cool while performing? Please write back to sk8erjessb@yahoo.com. Thank you soooooooo much!


	Ginger	01-06-02

hi my name is ginger u know u r really good i wish i werre as talented as you are how does it feel to be a star like type i think it is pretty kewl u know i am not the popular 1 at school but everyone knows me please right back to me at princessme_18@hotmail.com thanks i need someone to talk to well thats all c ya


	Janet	01-05-02

You are really good. You came in second behind Michelle Kwan! I hope you get into the olympics this year. I would be cool to see you on tv! It seems like the winners are just getting younger and younger. Its kind of hard to believe that you are about my age!


	Melissa	01-05-02

I luv ice skating too! I just started sk8ing and I'm in beta... I can't wait till i get good!


	Jenny	01-04-02

Is she gonna like respond to u guys?? i like ice skating too!


	JLA	01-04-02

I want to be an Ice skater ! I am in Freestyle 1 and I am 14 years old! You are my favorite skater in the whole world God Bless You!!!


	COURTNEY	01-04-02

That's very cool. You have some great advice for people trying to reach any type of goal.


	jasmine	01-04-02

shes so cool! ive seen her perform and she has cool movements! you go girl!


	Kat	01-03-02

I'd love to ice-skate but there aren't any rinks near where I live..


	Iliana	01-03-02

How old are you? You look like you are 14, but it says you are 17? You look young for your age. Good luck skating. Maybe you'll make it to the olympics!?!


	~una chica~	01-03-02

Sasha, I think u r a great skater & I wish u the best of luck! I can't wait 2 c u skate!


	Janet	01-02-02

You are just so talented! For someone your age you have made it big time. I hope you do make the Olympics and do really well. Go Sasha!!!


	TIM	01-02-02

That's very cool. My sister loves ice skating, I'll have to tell her to check this out.