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Just before the Winter Games, then-coach Frank Carroll said growing pains gave Kwan "a physical feeling of uncertainty."
"I think Michelle's body changed tremendously last year, although she doesn't realize it," he told reporters. "I mean, she has a woman's body, and, you know, a very beautiful body, when before last year, she just had a kid's body."
"Growing up is hard," Kwan said. "You're a little off-balance. Your speed and your timing may be off. When you're at that age, you're not that confident with your body. It's an instrument, and you have to fine-tune it."
For Cohen, growth caused other problems in 2001. The skater, then 16, was forced to withdraw from nationals because of a stress fracture in her lower back that doctors said was probably caused by a 4-inch growth spurt, bringing her height to 5 feet 1 inch tall.
Ron Ludington, director of the University of Delaware Ice Skating Science Development Center, said one of the greatest hurdles for maturing female skaters is maintaining their focus and not getting discouraged because what once was simple now is hard.
"The process is much easier for a growing boy," said Ludington, an Olympian and member of the Figure Skating Hall of Fame. "They gain muscle and mass in places where it is a benefit."
The skaters who glided past Meissner at nationals - champion Mirai Nagasu, 14; runner-up Rachael Flatt, 15; and fourth-place finisher Caroline Zhang, 14 - are all 4 feet 11 inches tall. Their growing years are ahead of them.
Or maybe not.
Kristi Yamaguchi, the 1992 Olympic gold medalist, remains a size 0.
candy.thomson@baltsun.com
"I think Michelle's body changed tremendously last year, although she doesn't realize it," he told reporters. "I mean, she has a woman's body, and, you know, a very beautiful body, when before last year, she just had a kid's body."
"Growing up is hard," Kwan said. "You're a little off-balance. Your speed and your timing may be off. When you're at that age, you're not that confident with your body. It's an instrument, and you have to fine-tune it."
For Cohen, growth caused other problems in 2001. The skater, then 16, was forced to withdraw from nationals because of a stress fracture in her lower back that doctors said was probably caused by a 4-inch growth spurt, bringing her height to 5 feet 1 inch tall.
Ron Ludington, director of the University of Delaware Ice Skating Science Development Center, said one of the greatest hurdles for maturing female skaters is maintaining their focus and not getting discouraged because what once was simple now is hard.
"The process is much easier for a growing boy," said Ludington, an Olympian and member of the Figure Skating Hall of Fame. "They gain muscle and mass in places where it is a benefit."
The skaters who glided past Meissner at nationals - champion Mirai Nagasu, 14; runner-up Rachael Flatt, 15; and fourth-place finisher Caroline Zhang, 14 - are all 4 feet 11 inches tall. Their growing years are ahead of them.
Or maybe not.
Kristi Yamaguchi, the 1992 Olympic gold medalist, remains a size 0.
candy.thomson@baltsun.com
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