Early Show
February 22, 2006
Transcript by Liz

Ancho: Thanks, guys. The Olympic competition is heating up. The women's figure skating free program gets under way tonight. American Sasha Cohen has a very narrow lead over Russian Irina Slutskaya following the short program. And two other Americans, Emily Hughes and Kimmie Meissner, still have an outside shot to medal. Tara Lipinski won gold at the 1998 Games and Katarina Witt won gold medals at the '84 and the '88 games. And good morning to both of you. It's great to see you both.

Tara: Good morning.

Katerina Witt: Hi. Good morning.

Anchor: Hey, Katarina, since you're there in Torino, I have to ask you about Sasha Cohen skipping practice yesterday because folks over here in the states are making a big deal out of that. What do you think?

Katerina: Yeah, I don't think they should make a big deal out of it. She is in great shape. She's physically right there. And if she mentally needed a day off she should take a day off. You know, this one day practice is not going to do anything except giving her some rest to think and to enjoy what's going on and just to go ahead and do her job.

Anchor: Tara, it is so close at the top. Cohen leads Slutskaya by just three one hundreths a point. And you can't forget Japan's Shizuka Arakawa. She's right there. Is the gold anybody's for the taking tonight? Really, is that how you see it?

Tara: I think in an Olympic event, anything can happen. And the long program is really the show. And I think Irina and Sasha and the--Shizuka, anything can happen. And I think Irina and Slutskaya for me, I think it's going to be between them.
,br> Anchor: You know, really, Katarina, the rap on Sasha Cohen is she's never been able to put together a clean short program and a clean long program together. That's what happened to her at Salt Lake. She had trouble on that final night of competition. What does she have to do tonight, do you think?

Katerina: You know, I think I've been watching her through the seasons, and I saw her at nationals, and she came across very strong. And even here how she pulled the short program out, skating last. She did it. And I think now she's a little older, a little more experienced, she knows exactly what to do. And I feel like she could really handle it well tonight.

Anchor: What do you think, Tara? Because Sasha has this reputation for not being able to win the big event. What kind of pressure might she be feeling tonight?

Tara: It's incredible pressure. I mean, I remember being there, and this day, I remember going out there and my legs were shaking and I'm like, `I don't know how I'm going to do this.' So I know what the girls are going through. And you look at Irina and she's a powerhouse. You look at her jumps. They are technically perfect. I used to be terrified of her. And you look at Sasha and she is such a performer. So it's, they have two very different qualities, and they're two great girls. So I'm kind of rooting for both of them.

Anchor: Tara, you were just, what, five months shy of your 16th birthday when you won your gold medal? Then we have Kimmie Meissner from the US. She's 16 years old. She went to two practices yesterday, said she would have gone to three if she could. Does she have a shot at a medal tonight?

Tara: You never know. I never... I like the underdogs. I like the young ones because, you know, everyone sometimes gives them slack because they're young and they need time and they need to pay their dues. But never count out the young ones.

Anchor: What about, Katarina, Emily Hughes? Emily Hughes is in seventh place. She's only been in Torino about a week, and got to go there when Michelle Kwan dropped out. Is she more of a skater for the future or do you think she has a chance tonight?

Katerina: See, Tara is right. She likes the young ones. I like the older ones. Sarah, yes, she has a chance by skating well tonight. I mean Emily, of course.

Anchor: Mmhmm.

Katerina: And she jumped in, and I think she did, of course, a great job in the short program by getting such a short notice and going in and coming to this big competition. And I think, you know, she has the future ahead of her, the same with Kimmie Meissner. I mean, those are the skaters for the future. And I would like to see the young ones staying in longer so we get attached to their names and attached to their characters and attached to their skating.

Anchor: Well, Irina Slutskaya's been around a long time. This is probably her last shot. She's 27 years old.

Katerina: Yes.

Anchor: You guys think it's going to come down to her and Tara. So, let's put you on the line. Tara, what's your prediction tonight. Who do you think's going to win?

Tara: Well, see, I think it--I really do believe it's going to be between Sasha and Irina. But, see, the thing I say is never count out the young ones, because yes, you'd love to see them stay in for a couple more years. But like, I was fifteen.

Anchor: All right.

Tara: And I already had injuries. But you never know. You know what I'm saying? You never can count out Emily and you never can count out Kimmie. But I think it's going to be between Sasha or Irina.

Anchor: Katarina, one word. Who wins tonight?

Katerina: I agree with Tara.

Anchor: OK.

Katerina: You know, anything is possible, but truthfully my heart goes to both, but a little more maybe to Irina because it would be a great ending of her career and I want then Sasha to stay in for four more years so we can enjoy her skating.

Anchor: Katarina, you should, you know, be a politician. Good answer. Katarina Witt, Tara Lipinski, thank you so much.

Katerina: Thank you.

Anchor: Looks like it'll be Sasha and Irina tonight.

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