About

Cohen began skating at age 7 with a friend ... Is the first U.S. woman since Tara Lipinski in 1998 to win gold at the ISU Grand Prix Final (2003) ... Missed the 2001 U.S. Championships due to a lower back injury ... The same injury forced her to withdraw from the 2004 Grand Prix Series ... Has landed quadruple jumps in practice - one of the first women in the world to do so ... One quad was captured on camera by ABC during practice at 2001 Skate America ... Due to age restrictions, first appearance at the World Championships was not until 2002 - a month after her fourth-place finish at the 2002 Olympics ... Skated with John Nicks when she was younger ... In 2003 moved east to train under Tatiana Tarasova ... In December 2003 decided to work with Robin Wagner, former coach of 2002 Olympic gold medalist Sarah Hughes ... Returned to Nicks in December 2004 ... Retired from competition after the 2006 World Championships ... On May 8, 2009, confirmed that she will return to competition for the 2009-10 season in an effort to make the 2010 Olympic team; listen to her talk about her comeback on this teleconference ... Withdrew from 2009 Trophee Eric Bompard, citing a calf injury.

Cohen's given name is Alexandra Pauline Cohen - Sasha is a Ukrainian nickname for Alexandra ... She has one younger sister, Natasha ... Mother, Galina, was born in Odessa, Ukraine ... Long-term goals include working as a fashion designer or in the entertainment industry ... Played herself in a 2006 taping of NBC's "Las Vegas" ... Guest judged an episode of Bravo's "Project Runway" in which the designers created skating dresses for her ... During the summer of 2006 acted in the indie film Moondance Alexander as a high school girl who rides horses ... Stars in a pair of commercials for Simply Saline, a nasal mist that helps prevent colds ... Also shot a 2006 Got Milk? commercial ... Was on her school honor roll and has won various gymnastics awards ... Was a successful gymnast before taking up figure skating, but says she wasn't focused enough for the dangerous elements; at age 7 she did a backspring series without noticing a four-inch beam in her path and luckily sprung over it ... Works with multiple charities including Girls Inc., for teenagers in need, and the Connecticut Children's Medical Center ... Has a dog named Mocha and cats named Mia and Meow ... Has appeared in the high-fashion French V magazine, Seventeen magazine and Vogue ... "Adopted" a U.S. soldier who is a specialist in the Army's Signal Battalion ... Cohen sends her soldier letters, postcards and care packages ... Was featured in the comic strip "Big Nate" by Lincoln Pierce ... Shared her cell phone with President Bush on international TV at the Opening Ceremonies of the 2002 Olympic Winter Games ... Minutes before taking the ice for her free skate at the 2002 Olympic Winter Games she realized she didn't have her tights and borrowed those of Japan's Fumie Suguri, who had just gotten off the ice ... Off ice, trains with ballet, stretching classes and Pilates ... Met the Queen of England when she performed at the 2002 Golden Jubilee to celebrate the queen's 50-year reign ... Hosted three on-ice clinics for the Marshalls SkateFests in the fall of 2004 ... Teamed with the Women's Sports Foundation to encourage girls to apply for the 2006 Sportsgirl Award; the SportsGirl program honors 50 young female athletes, one from each state, who excel in their sport of choice and demonstrate superior leadership skills on and off the field of play ... Describes herself as spunky, deliberate and focused.

SASHA'S FAVORITES
Favorite sports figure: Lance Armstrong
Favorite city: Barcelona
Favorite season: Summer
Favorite author: John Steinbeck
Favorite magazine: People
Favorite gadget: iPod
Favorite vacation: Somewhere in Europe
Favorite drink: Coffee
Favorite quote: "Life's tough, get a helmet."

SASHA'S 'THREE THINGS'
Three things people would be surprised to find out about me: I'm always at the library, I love to run errands, and I'm interested in almost everything.
Three people I'd like to have dinner with: Lance Armstrong, Angelina Jolie and Oprah Winfrey
Three things I hate doing: Waiting, getting up early and scheduling things way in advance
Three things I love doing: Cooking/baking with friends and family, seeing theater and sleeping
Three celebrity crushes: Clive Owen, Gerard Butler and Denzel Washington
Three favorite movies: My Fair Lady, Baraka and Bridges of Madison County
Three things I must have when I leave the house: Phone, iPod and wallet
Three favorite TV shows: Grey's Anatomy, Gossip Girl and Sex in the City
Three favorite foods: Sushi, salad and cupcakes
Three favorite drinks: Coffee, tea and champagne