Cohen's Olympic dreams flattened by dazzling Rachel

SASHA Cohen's Olympic ambitions have bitten the dust after 17-year old Rachel Flatt stormed through to win the free skate and lift her first national title at the US Figure Skating Championships.

FALLING FLAT: Sasha Cohen's Vancouver dream is over after the Olympic silver medallist fell once and landed with both feet twice in a shaky free skate at the US Championships (Getty Images)

Olympic silver medallist Cohen returned to competitive action in Spokane after nearly four years on the sidelines.

And after placing second with a dazzling short program, the 25-year old gave herself a fighting chance of securing the selectors favour as one of the two ladies picks for the Vancouver Olympics next month.

But Cohen's lack of competitive action was found out as she came unstuck in Saturday's free skate, falling once and landing on both feet twice as she placed fourth with 104.65 to finish fourth overall.

Instead, 2008 world junior champion Flatt shone through with a near-flawless free skate of 130.76 to claim the overall title.

With the top two from Spokane likely to go to Vancouver, 16-year old Mirai Nagasu seems favourite to join Flatt in February after finishing third in the free skate to place second overall on 188.78.

But 18-year old Ashley Wagner, who has been the pick of the American ladies on the Grand Prix circuit this season, may also have a claim for selection after scoring 122.15 to place second in the free skate and third overall, just 4.08 behind Nagasu.

Meanwhile, Grand Prix Final champions Meryl Davis and Charlie White continued their perfect season by defending their ice dance title.

Having won the compulsory dance and original dance, the duo completed their clean sweep to win the free dance on Saturday, despite a one point penalty.

The duo eventually finished on 222.29 with Olympic silver medallists Tanith Belbin and Benjamin Agosto, who had never previously lost to Davis and White, finishing second again to claim overall silver on 218.51.

Former world junior champions Emily Samuelson and Evan Bates are likely to fill the third ice dance spot in the Olympic squad after finishing a clear third overall on 190.69.