Hip bothers skater

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) -- Alexei Yagudin, the Olympic gold medalist and four-time world champion cruised through the short program at Skate America, then said a hip problem that's bothered him since last December could force him out of competitive skating.

Yagudin, who will turn 23 in March, said he was born with a bad right hip. The socket doesn't cover the bone completely, so the two rub together and cause painful irritation. Brian Joubert of France was in second place and Russia's Alexander Abt was third.