Free Republic

A former pairs champion took his own life Friday, just one day after he was suspended by U.S. Figure Skating. [snip] Coughlin was suspended Thursday by U.S. Figure Skating and U.S. Center for SafeSport. USA Today reported a “matter concerning him” was presented to SafeSport. The details were not immediately disclosed. In December, SafeSport restricted his participation in the sport before the “interim suspension” was announced. He was temporarily suspended from “participating in any capacity, in any activity or competition authorized or organized by USFS or the U.S. Olympic Committee,” USA Today reported.

The two-time national champion Nathan Chen, the veteran Adam Rippon and the rising star Vincent Zhou have been selected to represent the United States at the Pyeongchang Olympics next month. A U.S. Figure Skating Committee on Sunday chose the 2016 United States champion Rippon, who came in fourth at the national figure skating championships on Saturday night, instead of the second-place finisher, Ross Miner. The committee takes into consideration a number of criteria, including overall performance for the season. It will be the first Olympics for all three. Rippon’s inclusion at Miner’s expense isn’t unprecedented; the committee has made such...