Sasha Cohen Quotations

I like to cook simple things, like vegetable egg-white omelets; roast chicken; sauteed chicken breast with curry powder; and Greek salad. Just things that are fresh and healthy and fast and easy, because I have such a crazy schedule.

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.

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.

I eat a variety of foods like vegetables, fruit and beef for protein and iron.

Fashion always was a huge interest of mine. I love beautiful clothes. I appreciate fine beading and lovely fabrics.

I really liked the food in Japan. There is something so organized, neat, and methodical about it. They put a lot of care and quality into their cooking. I also love Mediterranean, New American, and Italian food, because the cuisines borrow influences from all over the world.

I'd like to cause a little riot in skating.

Cardio is tough after a day of skating, but with my iPod I can get into the moment and complete the cardio training for the day.

I'm a competitive person and I love the challenge of mastering new things.

The Olympics is about showing what you've done with your life, your dream as an athlete and sharing that with the world.

I do a variety of activities like Pilates, bike riding, physical therapy, and running. I also train on the ice five to six days a week. On the ice, I work on my programs as a whole and the individual technical elements that comprise the programs.

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.

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.

People should have their rights to be who they want to be and love who they want to love.

I've designed since I was 12. The first was when I skated to Carmen, in red and gold and black. I wanted so many frills at that time. It had a lot going on for a little person like me. And I picked out fabrics that didn't stretch. Very uncomfortable.

No matter where I am, especially when I'm on tour around the country, Caesar salad is my standby. In a random city and eating in random to-go restaurants, you're kind of scared about trying things, but you can always count on a Caesar salad.

I love attention. I love going to events and photo shoots... I enjoy it all; the clothing, the makeup, the excitement.

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

Skating has always been a major area of interest to me.

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.

I had whale tartare when I was in Japan, but I probably wouldn't have it again.

I love cashmere. For casual, I like Juicy Couture. I love the beading in Badgley Mischka. I like Dolce & Gabbana. There's such a lot to choose from.

My academic schedule is lighter this year because it's an Olympic year.

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.

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.

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.

Years ago I used to cry but I think I used up all my tears. I have to take helpful steps and it's not going to help me to cry.

Ultimately, it's only four minutes in one day out of my life.

Ultimately, it's four minutes of one day in my life. I've had such an incredible journey. I'm tougher than I think I am.

When I do win a national title, it would definitely mean a lot more if (Kwan) is there.

When I was 13, 14 and 15, she was a role model. She was one of the few skaters that didn't lose her temper, that would have a bad day and have a great attitude.

When I came back to Mr. Nicks, he said a skater who is older and more mature should have more input and responsibility for her skating. I feel I set my game plan and goals. He is always the one who is telling me to slow down a little bit.

She's the World Champion from last year. She's skated really strongly all season. She's definitely one of the top contenders.

She skated really, really well. The two triple-triples made for a really strong program. She deserved to be first.

Of course it can be frustrating. I went through a time when I thought, 'Why doesn't she retire? Give someone else a turn.' But at the same time, that motivates me. When the field is weak, you become weak. When I do win a national title it would mean a lot more if she's there.

Of course, I say all the time my personal best is what I am in this for. No matter if I won, it's if I did all I can do.

I was surprised when I learned I would be for sure getting a bronze and even more surprised when I going to be getting a silver. It was kind of like, oh that's nice. But over the last four years, I changed as a person. My focus is not on the medal. For me it's the experience and the process and enjoying it.

I was somehow able to block it out and pull myself together for the rest of the program. But it just wasn't my night.

I'd love to be back in Vancouver in 2010.

I'm a little bit shocked. I know how tough it is to come back from an injury and get yourself together. It's great she tried, but things don't always work out.

I felt good out there. A bit nervous, but determined and positive.

I enjoyed the experience. I think as a person I matured and I was strong through it all. I'm happy with it. I'm just really ecstatic to come out with a medal.

I enjoyed the experience. I'm just really ecstatic to come out with a medal.

For whatever reason, the pro world has kind of died out, and the skaters are staying in, staying competitive, putting in the effort, the training to stay at the top of their game. It's difficult.

For me, when I get to the venue and have the people and the audience, my performance boosts up. I skate at a much higher level. I'm one of those people that feel like I can feed off the energy and be better. I love to perform.

It can be frustrating, ... But I am where I am, and everyone has their own trajectory. I know my time will come. I just have to be ready for it.

I think it's always tough coming back from an injury, physically and mentally. But Michelle has proven herself in different situations and she's a tough competitor.

I think it's hard for the girls here and everyone who's worked so hard to make the Olympic team.

It is a little weird without her here. It's kind of like me and all these little girls. It's a little empty without her here, but I've got some of my own things to worry about right now.

It is a little empty without her here but I have my own things to worry about.

I was disappointed and in a little bit of shock. I had a really hard time with a couple of jumps in the warm-up and I just couldn't get over it. I definitely didn't think I was going to get any medal at all at the end of the program, so it was a nice surprise.

I think about winning the Olympic gold medal a couple of times every day. Oh, it would be so nice to take one of those home.

I think it was a gift. I was very disappointed in my skate.

I think it was a gift. I?m very pleased.

I think it was a gift. For that performance, silver is generous.

I think it's the committee's job to name the strongest possible team, and hopefully if everyone's in their top form, they probably made the best decision.

It goes back to preparation. I still never feel like I've been as prepared as I could or should be. That's why I'm emphasizing that in my training.

It happens. We're not robots. Just kind of get up and do it again.

I think we're much more easygoing this time. It's like water, Kleenex...

I was able to believe when everything looked really dark and gray. I had a little break where the music carried me through. I love the music and performing this program. It's always so special to me no matter what happens. It goes beyond an athletic event and just becomes an emotional experience. I was able to attack the rest of the program.

My mom and her parents had to leave because her brother had left a couple of years before and the government was really upset. They took away both my grandparents' jobs, so they couldn't make a living. They had to sell all their things. They weren't allowed to take more than $500 out of the country.

I was very disappointed with my skate. I definitely gave 100 percent in my effort, I gave it my all. So I have no regrets with that. But it just wasn't my night.

It feels a little weird without Michelle. Just me and all these little girls.

It felt a little empty with her not here. Michelle has always been a big part of the event. I miss competing with her. It really doesn't feel like the Nationals.

I still haven't found that automatic robot to pump out the perfect performances. That is something I am still searching for.

I think over the past four years, I have changed as a person - because my focus is not on the medal. None of the medals I have at home, I even know where they are - they're in shoe boxes and random places.

I think I was probably not nervous but just a little apprehensive. Ultimately, the jumps just weren't there.

John was sick of having little girls in pink dresses who were just trying their best. He would try to create controversy. It was not always good for me, but it was fun for him.

I was proud of myself for what I overcame with being sick this week. But it definitely would mean more with Michelle here. She's won so many titles in the past, and I was always second, but I'm not complaining about this title.

I wasn't raised going to synagogue. My mother wasn't brought up with that, so I wasn't brought up with it.

I would never let myself believe that. I'm a strong athlete and I definitely believe I'm getting stronger.

My big weaknesses (in the past) have been a lack of preparation, a lack of knowledge and perhaps not enough confidence and afraid of mistakes. I need to stop trying to be perfect and just worry about becoming better.

You just have to stay on top of the ball, and keep calling people and asking people, and not get one opinion, but 20. It always changes. It's very important to be involved as a skater because ultimately no one cares more about how you do than yourself.

Usually, the Olympics is a bit stronger competition.

When a skater gets older, they become more mature, and they can assume more responsibility for their skating, ... That's how I've evolved. I know what works and what doesn't, and Mr. Nicks is a great coach for me.

You have to stay in the present and give it your 100 percent.

You figure you train all year for this, you're so nervous, so you might as well stand on the ice and enjoy it for more than five seconds. I realize everything I have been through and what I have done, appreciate the audience. It's nice to have just 30 seconds of relief.

At the time, I was devastated, crushed that it didn't turn out how I wanted. But it was my first major international event, so I learned a lot from it.

First, you get really dizzy and you learn that you have to center, to stay in one spot.

I stayed strong, and I believed in myself and to finish up a strong program and get a standing ovation and then to have the judges give me great marks on top of that was everything I could have asked for.

I shall leave you with an ambiguous answer.

I've been training very hard and very well, ... I've been nailing 99 percent of what I do in practice. That gave me the confidence to do this. I expected to skate well.

I've been nailing 99 percent of what I do in practice and that gave me the confidence to do what I did out there, ... I had a whole summer of hard work, I trained hard, and it paid off so I'm happy.

I've stopped trying to be perfect. When I train, I'm not afraid to make a mistake. I train harder and make more mistakes, but I feel more prepared. I'm not holding back and becoming a better athlete.

It was very difficult. I wasn't coming back with an easy jump, with the triple loop, which I also slammed in the warm-up. I was able to believe when everything was dark and gray. The music carried me through. It goes beyond an athletic event, goes to emotional experience.

I've always wanted a national title. I've got a lot of silvers in shoe boxes and storage units all over the place. I think the gold one will have a special place.

I've always tried to be perfect. And I need to stop trying to be perfect and worry about becoming better.

I've always emulated her work ethic because she was one of the few skaters that didn't lose her temper, that would have a bad day, but have a great attitude, come back and try again. That was a huge lesson for me to learn.

I wanted to enjoy the performance. This is a really fun program, a Gypsy number. It's very seductive and playful and it's getting involved with the crowd and the judges. I enjoyed it and just let it happen.

I want a world championship. I think I'm very capable and I've become a tougher competitor. I think it's very much within my reach.

After my skate, I took off my dress, I changed and I really didn't think I was going to get a medal. I was just a little bit in shock, just sitting there.

Definitely you have to be able to handle pressure and shake off any mistake and I kind of didn't do that tonight. I let that first mistake creep in. I have to be tougher.

This is really a window for people to choose what they want to skate to and try to explore new things, just do whatever they want. It's really nice to have options to express our creativity.

This is one of my first years where I'm on track and on target.

Amazing. I really enjoyed it. I didn't know what it would be like. They said they would love to have me back.

It was difficult to skate at the end after so many strong performances and I just took it one step at a time. I stayed strong and I believed in myself.

I tried to enjoy it and just make it happen. It's a really fun program, playful. It's about getting involved with the audience -- the judges and spectators. I enjoy the performance part.

I tried my best and was over my feet on the jump. I was proud to come back from it and it was really hard.

It's a hard decision for whoever has to make it. I hope the best decision is made. I know they worked hard all year, and it would be nice for them to go since they earned their spots.

It's not like it would be a stretch, and hopefully I'll get to be funny. There are a lot of characters in skating.