She was one of the first Soviet coaches to collaborate with the skating world outside the Soviet Union and its satellites.

"There is a big difference from 16 years ago," said Aleksandr Gomelsky, the Soviet coach.

However considering their recent successes at the European Championships, the Soviet coaches guessed that they were the two best hopes for a world title.

After the first operation, there was open criticism of the medical care from Aleksandr Gomelsky, the Soviet coach.

A Soviet coach ventured near the "tragic place," despite an official ban by the team's leaders.

She was not a serious competitor and Soviet coaches largely ignored her.

As some of the best former Soviet coaches have come to the United States, many top skaters have followed.

"I feel sorry for Ben Johnson," the Soviet coach, who insisted on anonymity, is quoted in one article.

"We are former Soviet coaches, but liberty brought us part of liberty," Mishin said.

After an exchange with the Soviet coaches, the interpreter said, "That's what they say."