Cohen still plans to skate at US Figure Skating Championships with eye on Vancouver Games

Full speed ahead: Cohen will skate at nationals

Sasha Cohen’s coach says the Olympic silver medalist intends to skate at the U.S. championships later this month.

Cohen has been working “very, very hard,” longtime coach John Nicks says. The Chicago Tribune first reported Cohen’s plans on Monday, with the skater telling the paper: “I’ve really put myself on the line for this.”

Cohen’s presence could add some badly needed buzz to the ladies competition, but her participation had been in doubt after she withdrew from both of her Grand Prix events because of tendinitis in her right calf. She hasn’t skated competitively since the 2006 world championships.

The U.S. women have only two spots at the Vancouver Olympics.