He won in 1989, the first year after Brian Boitano's departure to professional skating.

Turkey had only one ice rink then, and no professional skating coaches.

After a year, she felt more confident and they began performing in the less demanding world of professional skating.

The distinction between amateur and professional skating has been impenetrably blurred.

The level of professional skating remains Olympic-caliber.

Turned off by professional skating, she dabbled in a restaurant venture, then sought reinstatement as an amateur.

For Thomas, the move into professional skating will be a limited one.

"They are trying to get rid of professional skating as it is known for control purposes," he said.

After the Olympics, the pair returned to professional skating and moved to Simsbury, Connecticut.

That's the difference between the Olympics and professional skating.