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On [[April 7]], [[1998]], Lipinski announced her intention to turn professional in an interview with [[Katie Couric]] on the [[Today Show]]. She cited a desire to spend more time with her family, to have time for school, and to compete professionally against other Olympic champions. However, rather than spending time at home, Lipinski immediately embarked on full schedule of touring, publicity appearances, and acting engagements that required constant travel.
Following her decision to turn professional, Lipinski was heavily criticised both for the decision itself and for the inept public relations skills of her agent and family. For example, the [[United States Figure Skating Association]] (USFSA) was not officially informed of Lipinski's decision to withdraw from the World Championships before the announcement was made to the press. In addition to Lipinski's own conflicting statements, her agent, [[Mike Burg]], told reporters he was worried about Lipinski "tarnishing" her Olympic medal by continuing to compete. In a widely publicized incident, Lipinski's mother said to the press when she found that [[Michelle Kwan]] had been chosen to present a team jacket to President [[Bill Clinton]], rather than Lipinski, at a [[White House]] reception for Olympic athletes, "Don't you think it's a terrible thing for them to do to poor Tara? It's been like this for poor Tara. It's a terrible thing."<ref name="mom"> [http://www.makeithappen.com/wis/readings/usice.html Women in Sports - 1998 US Ice Hockey Team, April 29, 1998.] URL accessed June 7, 2006</ref> Not long after she turned professional, Lipinski also broke an existing $1.2 million contract to appear in made-for-TV events sponsored by the USFSA.
In August 1998, Lipinski suffered a hip injury in practice. After a string of other injuries, she underwent surgery to repair torn cartilage in her hip in September 2000. Many people have pointed to the repetitive stress of practicing the [[loop jump|triple loop]] combinations Lipinski performed during her competitive days as the primary cause of her hip problems.
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