Cohen slips to silver

Sasha Cohen won the U.S.’s eighth Olympic medal in figure skating on Thursday, just not the kind she wanted.

The Corona del Mar resident claimed the silver medal in the women’s figure skating competition at the Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy. Cohen was the leader after Tuesday’s short program, but took a tumble literally and figuratively in the final.

The gold medal went to Japan’s Shizuka Arakawa, who vaulted from third to first with a near flawless routine. Russia’s Irina Slutskaya won the bronze medal.

Cohen, who grew up in Laguna Niguel and moved to Corona del Mar in December 2004, held a slim lead going into the long program. That margin vanished early in her routine as she fell attempting to complete the first in a three-jump combination. Later, she had to put both hands down to the ice to steady herself after another shaky jump.

The two miscues opened the door for Arakawa, the defending world champion. Slutskaya had a chance at the gold, skating last, but also fell during her program and dropped to third.

“I was very disappointed with my skate,” Cohen told reporters afterward. “I definitely gave 100% in my effort, I gave it my all. So I have no regrets about that. But it just wasn’t my night.”

Her tumbles continued a history of problems in major competitions, particularly in the long program. She slipped out of medal contention in 2002 at the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics ? finishing fourth ? and faltered at the 2003 and 2004 U.S. Championships ? losing to Michelle Kwan each time ? and the 2004 world championships, where she lost to Arakawa.

Cohen is coached by Costa Mesa resident John Nicks.