The contenders

The women’s figure skating begins today. It will be televised on Channel 4, 8:30-11 p.m. PST:

IRINA SLUTSKAYA

27, Moscow

The defending world champion and 2002 silver medalist. Has had health problems and has been distracted by her mother’s kidney-transplant problems the last few years, but she’s a fierce competitor who never lets her family accompany her to competitions because she doesn’t want to be distracted. Her speed is remarkable and her jumps technically sound. Artistry is her weakness.

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SASHA COHEN

21, Corona del Mar

Four times a runner-up at the U.S. championships, she won her first national title in January after Michelle Kwan withdrew because of an injury. Her grace and musicality are stunning, but she has never skated two clean programs in a major competition. She was third after the short program at Salt Lake City but dropped to fourth after a flawed routine.

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MIKI ANDO

18, Aichi, Japan

A marvelous jumper whose soft landings and apparent ease disguise the difficulty of what she’s doing. She became the first woman to land a quadruple jump in competition, a quadruple salchow in 2002. She plans to try that jump in her long program here. She has been erratic since winning the 2004 world junior championship. She’s coached by Carol Heiss Jenkins, the 1960 women’s Olympic champion.

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SHIZUKA ARAKAWA

24, Sendai, Japan

She considered quitting the sport after winning the 2004 world title and acknowledged that it took her a year to regain her motivation. Tall for a skater at 5 feet 6, she’s a strong jumper and she improved her presentation and choreography by working with noted Russian coach Tatiana Tarasova, coach of 2002 men’s gold medalist Alexei Yagudin.

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CAROLINA KOSTNER

19, Ortesi, Italy

She carried the flag for her homeland in the opening ceremony and will carry the burden of high expectations. But she might be able to live up to the demands. A strong jumper, she won the bronze medal at last year’s world championships. Daughter of a figure-skating mother and hockey-playing father.