Bookstore Glossary Library Links News Publications Timeline Virtual Israel Experience
Anti-Semitism Biography History Holocaust Israel Israel Education Myths & Facts Politics Religion Travel US & Israel Vital Stats Women
donate subscribe Contact About Home

Sasha Cohen

(1984 - )

Alexandra Pauline "Sasha" Cohen is a Jewish American figure skater and Olympic silver medalist.

Cohen (born October 26, 1984) was born in Westwood, California. Her mother, Galina Feldman, is a Jewish immigrant from Ukraine and a former ballet dancer; her father, Roger Cohen, is a Jewish American business consultant who used to practice law.

Cohen rose to prominence in the skating community during the 2000 United States Figure Skating Championships. Just up from juniors, Cohen was in first place after the short program. She fell to second after the free skating, but qualified for the world team. Cohen competed at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah, finishing 4th.

Cohen's best season was 2003–2004, when she took gold medals at three Grand Prix events and a silver medal at both the U.S. National Championships and the World Championships. During competitions in 2006, Cohen wore a Kabbalah red string bracelet. She said, “I'm not deeply into Kabbalah, but I appreciate the principles of it, to ward off evil and not think negative thoughts about people.”

At the 2006 Winter Olympic Games, Cohen finished with the silver medal, less than 8 points behind gold medal winner Shizuka Arakawa of Japan. After taking a few years away from the sport to pursue other interests, Cohen attempted a comeback for the 2010 Olympic Games but was not selected for the U.S. team after falling during her qualifying appearance.

Cohen has participated in the ice show "Stars On Ice" for several years.


Sources: Sasha Cohen Official Website, Wikipedia