On Edge: Backroom Dealing, Cocktail Scheming, Triple Axels, And How Top Skaters Get Screwed

by Jackson, Jon

• ISBN13: 9781560258049
• ISBN10: 1560258047
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2006-01-11
• Publisher: Perseus Books Group

Summary

"In the tradition of great exposes comes the first ever tell-all of the world of figure skating. Bribery, drug abuse, sexual affairs, power-hungry scheming...they're all here, as witnessed by a former Olympic-level judge and competitive skater. But On Edge is so much more than just a peek behind the curtain: here is a courageous call to fix a flawed sport." "Figure skating is one of the most popular sports in America - second only to pro football in TV viewers - and commands lucrative endorsements, fame, and infamy for its stars. But its beauty and artistry stand in direct contrast to the sordid dealings taking place off the ice - particularly among the judges. The world caught a glimpse of this corruption at the 2002 Winter Olympics, when the French judge in the pairs-skating event tearfully confessed she'd arranged to "give" her vote to the Russians. The result was an unprecedented double gold medal - one to the Canadians and one to the Russians. As On Edge shows, until the system itself is fixed, future controversies on an even bigger scale are sure to follow." "Up until now, no one has dared expose the dirty secrets of figure skating for fear of ending his or her career. Jon Jackson has already ended his, and he is ready to talk."--BOOK JACKET.

Author Biography

Jon Jackson is a former competitive figure skater and Olympic level judge, and the founder of the World Skating Federation. A retired lawyer, he lives in Las Vegas.

Table of Contents

Prologue: Hotel Hi-jinx	vii
A Feathered Fowl Takes Flight	1	(15)
Pointing in the Right Direction	16	(24)
Beads, Buttons, and Bedazzlers---My Life in Sequins	40	(27)
You Put Your Left Foot In	67	(18)
From Athlete to Official	85	(26)
From Plain to Plaid	111	(29)
A Shooting Star	140	(25)
Golden Boy	165	(25)
Salt Lake City Winter Games	190	(20)
Truth and Consequences	210	(22)
Legal Tricks and Maneuvers	232	(28)
Counsel's Concluding Remarks	260	(29)
Epilogue: Jon Jackson in the Year, I, A.S. (After Skating)	289	(3)
Index	292