For United States, a Cure for the Common Gold?

A flu wave sweeping through the Olympic athletes’ village has increased the United States’ chances of sweeping the women’s figure skating medals.

German figure skater Tanja Szewczenko, regarded a contender for whatever medal Michelle Kwan and Tara Lipinski don’t win, withdrew from the Games, claiming she was too weak from flu.

“This is one of the hardest decisions I’ve had to make in my career,” said Szewczenko’s coach, Peter Jonas. “It was made in accordance with the German skating federation and with Tanja. It was like a cement block off her shoulders.”

Szewczenko, sidelined for all of 1996 and part of 1997 because of a viral illness, had made a startling return to international competition, winning the NHK Trophy here at White Ring area last November and placing second to Lipinski at the Champions Series Final in December.

“We came for her to fight for a medal,” Jonas said, “but there would be no shame if we did not win a medal. But it would be a catastrophe if the health of Tanja was endangered.”

With Szewczenko’s withdrawal, American Nicole Bobek becomes a favorite for the bronze medal, along with Russians Maria Butyrskaya and Irina Slutskaya.