Figure skating has been Russia's pride for decades if not centuries. But faced with bans from international competitions, young Russian skating talents are leaving the country in search of a better future.
A Modern Orthodox Jew from West Orange, New Jersey, Kops had plans to attend nursing school before being offered a chance to vie for a spot on Israel's Olympic team.
A lot of hopes are riding on the skates of Hailey Kops and Evgeni Krasnopolski.writes Abigail Klein Leichman. The figure-skating pair are among six athletes expected to represent Israel at the Beijing Olympics from Feb. 4 to Feb. 20. And Israel has never medaled at the Winter Games. “Yes, there’s a little pressure but in…