Slutskaya resumes training;
heart illness sidelined star

October 26, 2003

Irina Slutskaya has been sidelined with a heart problem since summer but
is scheduled to resume her skating career in several weeks.

The former World Champion from Russian was hospitalized with pericarditis, an inflammation of the sac around the heart; chronic asthmatic bronchitis; and pneumonia. Doctors said the cause of the heart problem was not known.

"She was coughing and had a fever and took medication at home," her agent, Ari Zakarian. "But the illness continued and she went to a hospital and was told she had to stay there because of the heart problem."

Slutskaya told Zakarian she feared she would never skate competitively again. The 2002 Olympic silver medalist "was devastated," Zakarian said. "She said, `This is it. I'm done.' "

It took two months for Slutskaya to get doctor’s approval to begin training on September 20. She plans to compete in the Cup of Russia (November 19-23) and NHK Trophy in Japan, two Grand Prix events, a week later.

Zakarian said Slutskaya was "a little weak and off-balance," at first but by her second day on ice she was practicing triple jumps. Slutskaya is now practicing all her elements and going through her program run throughs. Slutskaya had to withdraw from the World Championships in March to be
home with her mother, who has a kidney illness. Her mother continues three days a week dialysis treatment and is on a waiting list for a kidney transplant.