Cohen Wanted to Skate, but Coach Won Out

To the end, Sasha Cohen insisted she could have competed in the U.S. figure skating championships.

Even though a stress fracture in her back caused the 16-year-old from Laguna Niguel to fall in practice on a single axel jump--a basic move she hadn’t missed in years--Cohen wanted to skate. Her coach, John Nicks, finally won their battle of titanic wills, and Cohen withdrew Wednesday.

“She resists me on a permanent basis,” said Nicks, whose other star pupil, Naomi Nari Nam of Irvine, withdrew Tuesday because a hip injury limited her preparation time. “One part of my philosophy is to create an athlete who’s independent, not dependent, to create someone who’s courageous and has a determined point of view. I’ve created this monster, and it’s come back to haunt me.”

Nicks spoke affectionately, although he acknowledged their relationship is turbulent.

The injury was diagnosed about a month ago. Cohen, the 2000 silver medalist, disobeyed Nicks’ recommendation to stop jumping and disobeyed a doctor’s order to stay off the ice and found a doctor who said competing would cause no further damage. She also didn’t tell Nicks the extent of her discomfort.