Boot Woes Force Out Goebel

ATLANTA —  Doing quadruple jumps with boots and blades not designed for repeated, high-impact landings has put Timothy Goebel’s back, legs, hips and feet out of alignment and led the Olympic bronze medalist to withdraw from the U.S. Figure Skating Championships.

“Coming into this event, I had every intention of competing,” said Goebel, who trains in El Segundo. “At this point, I feel I need to go home and get things fixed for the future.”

Goebel had dropped out of two events this season because of problems with his boots and was 10th here after a terrible short program. He was examined Friday by U.S. team doctor Leisure Yu, who found significant changes since an exam in August. “It alarmed me how much he had progressed the wrong way,” said Yu, on staff at Loma Linda University Medical Center.

“The chain of reaction that brings the force of [landing on] the ice to the hips and spine result in sort of a pogo-stick type jumping that can over time result in a number of injuries,” the doctor said.

He said the problems can be fixed with treatments and orthotics.

“I strongly believe that Tim will be ready for next year,” Yu said.

The men’s competition ends tonight with the long program, worth two-thirds of the score. Johnny Weir, who trains in Newark, Del., was first after the short program, followed by Matt Savoie of Peoria, Ill., and Evan Lysacek, who trains in El Segundo.

Michael Weiss of Fairfax, Va., is fourth -- as he was last year before he rallied to win.

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Sasha Cohen, first after the women’s short program, will try to unseat defending champion Michelle Kwan of Manhattan Beach in tonight’s free skate finale. Cohen, formerly of Laguna Niguel, switched coaches three weeks ago to Robin Wagner, who guided Sarah Hughes to a gold medal at the Salt Lake City Olympics. Cohen, 19, said their collaboration has strengthened her focus.

“With each competition, it becomes less and less about winning medals,” Cohen said. “My medals are in a shoebox in the garage. It’s more about skating through the program and that feeling you have when it all clicks.”

Kwan, second after the short program, is skating for a record seventh title in a row and eighth overall, second only to the nine won by Maribel Vincent.

Jennifer Kirk of Newton, Mass., who trains in Rochester Hills, Mich., with Richard Callaghan, was third after a sparkling performance.

Angela Nikodinov of San Pedro is fourth and Amber Corwin of Hermosa Beach is fifth.

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Tanith Belbin and Benjamin Agosto of the Detroit Skating Club swept all three phases of the ice dance competition to win their first U.S. title. Melissa Gregory and Denis Petukhov, who train in Simsbury, Conn., were second. Both will go to the World Championships in Germany in April.

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Christopher Toland, an Anaheim Servite High alum, moved up from third to win the junior men’s short program. He trains in El Segundo with Ken Congemi.