Nicole Bobek is a woman with a mission.
Following a disappointing 17th-place finish at the Olympics in Nagano, the former U.S. figure skating champion is looking to the upcoming State Farm U.S. Championships for a little redemption."I didn't want to end on a low note like that," the 21-year-old said in a telephone interview. "You want to finish with your head held high."
So, despite mounting pressure to get out of amateur competition, Bobek has spent the last year in a cocoon of sorts -- a time of transformation preparing for nationals, in Salt Lake City Feb. 7-14.
She has moved back to Detroit -- fast becoming a figure skating mecca -- again to train at the Detroit Skating Club. She is living alone, independent from her parents for the first time. And she has chosen a quieter life, away from the distractions in which she had (sometimes notoriously) taken part.
"I wasn't making very good friends, and I made bad judgments on things," Bobek admitted. "But if I had to go back, I'd probably make those same mistakes. Because I definitely learned from those mistakes."
Her focus now, she says, is on skating. As such, she has returned to train with Richard Callaghan, the coach that guided her to a national title in 1995. Together, Bobek says they have returned to the basics: working her out of sloppy jumping habits and re-emphasizing consistency and a solid training regimen.
It seems the basics have worked for Bobek. Slowly emerging from the cocoon, Bobek has placed in the top three in several ISU Grand Prix and ISU Open events, all leading up to nationals in Salt Lake City.
Bobek says her chances to win or place at nationals are good. Michelle Kwan is an obvious favorite, but the injury-free Bobek asserts a competition is won or lost on the ice.
In spite of her transformation, it's still true that Bobek wouldn't be Bobek without a little mystery.
There's a shroud of secrecy over her new long program, and a new triple-triple jump combination. Rumor has it the program will be skated to music from the movie "Titanic," but neither Bobek nor her coach will confirm that.
"Coach's orders," she said, her playful mischievousness oozing through the phone lines.
Bobek is back.