It has been a long time since Michelle Kwan competed overseas.
Not since 2000 has she been in a major event in Europe. While Kwan promised she wouldn't get lost on her way to next week's World Figure Skating Championships in Dortmund, Germany, she was uncertain what was in store once she arrives.
History, perhaps. Another world title would give Kwan six, topping Olympic gold medalist Carol Heiss Jenkins for the most by an American woman.
"I am trying to figure out how it's going to be going to another country, it's been so long," says the eight-time U.S. champion. "It seems I have not competed in another country for a long time, and to go to Europe is an adjustment.
"The arenas are a little different. Mentally you try to prepare for how the ice is ... But it's nice I am experienced with the different kinds of ice surfaces. Maybe that makes it easier to analyze before I get on the ice."
Analyzing the women's field isn't too difficult. Kwan and compatriot Sasha Cohen and Japan's Fumie Suguri figure to outclass everyone -- even 2002 winner Irina Slutskaya of Russia, who is making her season's debut after battling illness since last summer.
Cohen never has beaten Kwan in a major event and doesn't even own a world championships medal. She won three Grand Prix events this season and one invitational.
Cohen seemed unbeatable, but then struggled at another invitational before losing to Suguri at the Grand Prix final. At nationals, Cohen won the short program, then fell apart in the free skate.
She also switched coaches from Tatiana Tarasova to Robin Wagner, who helped Sarah Hughes win the 2002 Olympics.
"I think it's really all about the training and coming in prepared," Cohen says. "I think I've really had a chance to do that over the last two months since nationals. I think worlds has a chance to be a really great competition for me.
"Just being home to train -- I was gone and all over the place. Grand Prixs, other events. I didn't really have the training time that I needed. Looking back now, I see I way overpacked the front end of my season. You can only do so much so well."
That's something world champion Evgeni Plushenko has learned, too.
Plushenko has competed despite a torn meniscus in his right knee that will require surgery after the season. Like Kwan, he is in a class by himself, but his injury and some poor strategizing cost him the Grand Prix final crown and the European title.
His conquerors, Canada's Emanuel Sandhu (Grand Prix final) and France's Brian Joubert (Europeans) achieved very little in their careers before those upsets.
"There will always be new faces in our sport, such as the skaters you named," says Plushenko, the silver medalist at the Salt Lake City Olympics. "They are all good skaters and have a different style, and I'm looking forward to compete with them in Dortmund.
"My confidence is still the same. The free program at Europeans was an accident."
The top Americans are Johnny Weir, making his first appearance at worlds, and three-time U.S. champion Michael Weiss, a two-time world bronze medalist. Weir routed the field at nationals in January for his first significant title.
He isn't going to Dortmund as a medal favorite, although in this strange season, it could happen -- particularly if Weir skates as well as he did in Atlanta.
"I think it is cool people are finally stepping up and winning and it's the performances that matter," says Weir, the 2001 world junior champion. "I think that is great. I am a prime example. Nationals were very rewarding.
"Plushenko is maybe more injured than he is letting on. I don't think he decided it was time to let people beat him."
The United States has no shot at a pairs medal, but is hopeful Tanith Belbin and Benjamin Agosto can make a breakthrough in ice dance. No Americans have won a dance medal at worlds since 1985.
"We have so much potential," Agosto said. "As long as we're willing to put in the effort and the time and work hard, the sky's the limit."
With a new coach, Rafael Arutunian, and only the U.S. nationals two months ago to impress the judges, Kwan, 23, is something of a mystery this year. Then again, she barely competed last season, then swept nationals and worlds.
And she's in reach of something no U.S. woman has achieved. That, alone, should energize Kwan.
"The motivation is always different for an athlete," she says. "Sometimes when you win the big one, there is nothing else to look forward to. It becomes hard work to approach it.
"I try to find a little inspiration that helps me move on and keep on going."
AP NEWS
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