Figure Skater Nicole Bobek Arrested for Role in Drug Ring

Talented but troubled Nicole Bobek has been arrested for participating in a New Jersey drug ring. Police arrested Nicole Bobek in Florida last week for planning to distribute methamphetamine. According to Trans World News, figure-skater Nicole Bobek is being held on $200,000 bail and faces up to ten years in prison. At least twenty others were also arrested for their role in the drug ring. Nicole Bobek's mugshot is available at Trans World News.

This is not Nicole Bobek's first run-in with the law. In 1994, she was arrested for first-degree home invasion. She pled guilty under Michigan's Youthful Trainee Act and sentence to two years probation. Although such cases are normally required to remain confidential, information was leaked to the media in 1995, causing scandal just when she was at the peak of her figure-skating career.

Nicole Bobek Arrested: Life and Career

Nicole Bobek, 31, is the daughter of a Czech mother. She has never met her father. In terms of natural talent alone, Nicole Bobek arguably exceeded Nancy Kerrigan, Tara Lipinski, and Michelle Kwan, but she never lived up to her enormous potential. When she skated cleanly, she was beautiful to watch, but when she was inconsistent (which was often), it was painful. Had her level of discipline matched her talent, she could have been great.

Nicole Bobek had the best spiral sequences in the business, causing younger skaters such as Michelle Kwan, Tara Lipinski, and Sasha Cohen to improve their own spirals. Yet while Nicole Bobek was a strong jumper, her lutz technique was questionable. Nicole Bobek won the US National Championships in 1995, and won the short program at the World Championships before choking on the long program and falling to third place. She made a comeback in 1998 to qualify for the Olympic team, but failed to skate cleanly Nagano.

Nicole Bobek Arrested: Athletes and Unfulfilled Potential

In sports, there are the Michelle Kwans and the Roger Federers, but also the Nicole Bobeks and the Tonya Hardings. Nicole Bobek is one of many athletes who failed to capitalize on their talent. Tonya Harding was first American to complete a triple axel in competition. Arguably, her strength and natural talent exceeded Kristi Yamaguchi and Nancy Kerrigan, but unsavory companions and poor life choices unfortunately tarnished her career.

Martina Hingis was a tennis prodigy who won her first major title at 15 (Wimbledon doubles). She spent 209 weeks as World No. 1 and holds five major titles (two Australian, one Wimbledon, and one US Open). Martina Hingis' career was plagued with injuries fro 2002 until 2006. Her promising comeback was curtailed after she tested positive for cocaine at Wimbledon 2007. On January 4, 2008, Martina Hingis received a two-year ban from the spot, and does not plan to return.

For talented athletes such as Nicole Bobek, Tonya Harding, and Martina Hingis, one can only wonder what might have been.

Sources:

Mugshot: Nicole Bobek Charged in NJ Drug Ring, Trans World News