Although the 18-year-old Lipinksi skated in a Philadelphia event on Tuesday, the World Pro competition in Washington, D.C. this weekend, would require two, much more technically demanding programs.

In 1998 at 15, Lipinski became the youngest ever Olympic women's champion at the Winter Games in Nagano, Japan.

"She just doesn't feel she's ready to compete. She really wanted to defend her title and waited until (Tuesday) night to make a decision. But without any ability to do her triple jumps and other things she needs to do to win, it's just not the right decision for her to go," Swain said by telephone from his Chicago office.

The women's entry list for this weekend's competition includes 1994 Olympic champion Oksana Baiul, 1994 world champion Yuka Sato and perennial world medallist Surya Bonaly.

Lipinski is "already able to do a triple jump here and there but there's still a lot of soreness." said Lipinski's coach Craig Maurizi in a telephone interview on Tuesday from his training facility in New Jersey.

"The muscle in her leg has atrophied so much since the surgery, she just has to build her strength up again," he said.

"It (the right leg) gives way pretty quick. The doctors confirmed that so many years of doing the triple loop-triple loop combination, which unfortunately was her signature move, was probably the biggest factor," Maurizi said of the difficult jump combo executed on the right leg only.

Lipinski will continue her physiotherapy in Houston. Later this month, Lipinski is due to perform on the three-month Stars on Ice tour in 64-cities throughout the United States.

Maurizi said the skater's doctor indicated her hip will be stronger than it was before the Olympics. The real question is whether she will be strong enough for the Stars on Ice tour, he said.