Remember watching this and thinking she blew it by being over cautious. Interesting watching it again. Probably enjoy it more now. Loved the spins in both directions. Wasn't thrilled Lipinski won but like Hughes after her, she went for broke and it was rewarded. It was more than the jumps. See also Oksana B over Nancy.
@pjfan143 To be honest, it was an unlucky draw. B/c she skated early in the last group, the judges had to withhold her 2nd mark to just 5.9s. Had she skated after Tara, Tara would have still beat her on the technical mark, but Michelle probably would have had nearly all 6.0s on presentation and would have won. Both of them skated lights out that night -- but Tara ended up with the luck of the draw.
@herm712 I'll never get it!!! People say Thomas lost the gold in '88 because she skated last, making her uncomfortable. Later on, Kwan lost to Lipinski because she skated first. If you look at it, Lipinski's technical content was waaaayyyy higher than Kwans (3Lutz2Toe, 3Loop sequence into 2 Toe vs 3Lutz2Top, 3loop3Loop, 3Toe-half-Loop3Salchow). 14 Years passed since any other female landed a 3Loop3Loop (Zhang) at 4 Continents. Kwan's program was boring, while Lipinski was joyful. 6-3!
Wow... this performance was great but Tara definitely deserved to win due to the MUCH higher technically difficult performance. She had a higher triple count than Michelle and did more combinations. However, Kwan should still be proud of winning the silver medal!
@justinlambchop: I agree that Tara's program was harder technically, but just wanted to clarify that Tara did not have a higher triple count. They both completed 7 triples, however Tara did triple-triple combos which added to her first mark. It's such a tough call honestly, and will be debated forever. Many feel Kwan should have won based on the artistic mark. I think Kwan's legendary status surpasses Olympic gold, and I think Tara was worthy of gold here. Kwan is just so adored.
@mlc2005 I adore Michelle but I agree. Tara was outstanding and skated one of the most difficult routines I've ever seen. She deserved her gold. Even so, I've always thought that Michelle lost her gold by ONE revolution. She had no triple-triple. I've never seen her do a 3lutz 3toe. It's always double. Tara had a 3loop 3loop. I always wondered how it might have turned out had Michelle done a 3x3 combo. We'll never know...but Tara was a deserved winner.
@lcowles: Yeah, it's just one of those events that frustrates the hell out of a Kwan fan like me (and you I take it). I agree that Tara was amazing, and her technical level was harder; I think what bothers people is this lingering question about skating order (I agree with pjfan143 that Kwan would have gotten 6.0's had she skated after Tara). Tara's axle and jumps that were 2 inches off the ground just bothered me. I think her 70# frame just gave her a natural advantage; what can you do?
@lcowles michelle has done 3-3's, but in competition she has only landed the 3 toe-3toe, which is one of the easier 3-3's. peggy fleming said at the 2001 world championships that michelle was landing 3-salchow-3loops in practice, but there is no video of that! there's also an article where michelle says she was landing 3-lutz-3toe during practice, but again never in competition. I always regret she wasn't able to show those other combos off...it would've made her unbeatable :(
@michiganisnotsoco under the old judge system, if you make a tiny mistake in your jumps, you are out of podium. there was no need for michelle to risk jump combo like 3 lutz- 3 toe
@justinlambchop it's hard to say because if the 98 olympics was judged under the current system, every element would be analyzed and many of michelle's elements were better than tara's. michelle's footwork and spirals for example, and she had better flow out of her jumps. tara did have a much more difficult program jump wise but her triple-triples were actually underrotated so she would've received a deduction, both had a wonky landing on one of their jumps
i really did want michelle to win the gold because she is just so great and i thought that she would. I had been watching tara since she was 15 and of course she is great too!!! i love both of them but i did think michelle would win. however, after watching their performances, tara was just a pinch better-i mean it was really really close!!! they are both such great talents and i love them both-i just kind of wanted michelle to get the gold! Tara was just a bit better! thanks for posting!!!
To this day, I still think Michelle should have won Gold at the 1998 Olympics. Her skating was superior to Tara's.
texasguy377 1 week ago
Remember watching this and thinking she blew it by being over cautious. Interesting watching it again. Probably enjoy it more now. Loved the spins in both directions. Wasn't thrilled Lipinski won but like Hughes after her, she went for broke and it was rewarded. It was more than the jumps. See also Oksana B over Nancy.
redkerr15 1 week ago
She inspired me...I figure skated my whole life. She was my idol. I was on tv for my skating
CalyieFantage 1 month ago
How did she not win the gold????
pjfan143 1 month ago
@pjfan143 To be honest, it was an unlucky draw. B/c she skated early in the last group, the judges had to withhold her 2nd mark to just 5.9s. Had she skated after Tara, Tara would have still beat her on the technical mark, but Michelle probably would have had nearly all 6.0s on presentation and would have won. Both of them skated lights out that night -- but Tara ended up with the luck of the draw.
herm712 1 month ago 4
@herm712 I'll never get it!!! People say Thomas lost the gold in '88 because she skated last, making her uncomfortable. Later on, Kwan lost to Lipinski because she skated first. If you look at it, Lipinski's technical content was waaaayyyy higher than Kwans (3Lutz2Toe, 3Loop sequence into 2 Toe vs 3Lutz2Top, 3loop3Loop, 3Toe-half-Loop3Salchow). 14 Years passed since any other female landed a 3Loop3Loop (Zhang) at 4 Continents. Kwan's program was boring, while Lipinski was joyful. 6-3!
EEDiazL 2 days ago
Wow... this performance was great but Tara definitely deserved to win due to the MUCH higher technically difficult performance. She had a higher triple count than Michelle and did more combinations. However, Kwan should still be proud of winning the silver medal!
justinlambchop 1 month ago
@justinlambchop: I agree that Tara's program was harder technically, but just wanted to clarify that Tara did not have a higher triple count. They both completed 7 triples, however Tara did triple-triple combos which added to her first mark. It's such a tough call honestly, and will be debated forever. Many feel Kwan should have won based on the artistic mark. I think Kwan's legendary status surpasses Olympic gold, and I think Tara was worthy of gold here. Kwan is just so adored.
mlc2005 1 month ago
@mlc2005 I couldn't agree with you more. As much as I love Michelle, Tara did deserve to win the Gold.
jjh2456 1 month ago
@mlc2005 I adore Michelle but I agree. Tara was outstanding and skated one of the most difficult routines I've ever seen. She deserved her gold. Even so, I've always thought that Michelle lost her gold by ONE revolution. She had no triple-triple. I've never seen her do a 3lutz 3toe. It's always double. Tara had a 3loop 3loop. I always wondered how it might have turned out had Michelle done a 3x3 combo. We'll never know...but Tara was a deserved winner.
lcowles 1 month ago
@lcowles: Yeah, it's just one of those events that frustrates the hell out of a Kwan fan like me (and you I take it). I agree that Tara was amazing, and her technical level was harder; I think what bothers people is this lingering question about skating order (I agree with pjfan143 that Kwan would have gotten 6.0's had she skated after Tara). Tara's axle and jumps that were 2 inches off the ground just bothered me. I think her 70# frame just gave her a natural advantage; what can you do?
mlc2005 1 month ago
@lcowles michelle has done 3-3's, but in competition she has only landed the 3 toe-3toe, which is one of the easier 3-3's. peggy fleming said at the 2001 world championships that michelle was landing 3-salchow-3loops in practice, but there is no video of that! there's also an article where michelle says she was landing 3-lutz-3toe during practice, but again never in competition. I always regret she wasn't able to show those other combos off...it would've made her unbeatable :(
michiganisnotsoco 1 month ago
@michiganisnotsoco under the old judge system, if you make a tiny mistake in your jumps, you are out of podium. there was no need for michelle to risk jump combo like 3 lutz- 3 toe
101tanith 1 month ago
@justinlambchop it's hard to say because if the 98 olympics was judged under the current system, every element would be analyzed and many of michelle's elements were better than tara's. michelle's footwork and spirals for example, and she had better flow out of her jumps. tara did have a much more difficult program jump wise but her triple-triples were actually underrotated so she would've received a deduction, both had a wonky landing on one of their jumps
michiganisnotsoco 1 month ago
What a supportive father, he made me smile :)
But she was totally robbed of that gold medal.
audreyeatworld 2 months ago
the real winner.....
snofagun1814 2 months ago 14
Why was she crying
natcheer123 2 months ago
@natcheer123 she was really happy :)
Skate11Canada 2 months ago
Omg Ice sisters make it look like there not dizzy at all and they reallY are lol how do they do tHat
natcheer123 2 months ago
i really did want michelle to win the gold because she is just so great and i thought that she would. I had been watching tara since she was 15 and of course she is great too!!! i love both of them but i did think michelle would win. however, after watching their performances, tara was just a pinch better-i mean it was really really close!!! they are both such great talents and i love them both-i just kind of wanted michelle to get the gold! Tara was just a bit better! thanks for posting!!!
dogcat126 3 months ago
I just love it its so beautiful I do ice skating and I want to be just like her!
brs4me1969 4 months ago
the dress suits the music VERY well!
lowdaisy1 5 months ago
She is so good
shimmer77nails 6 months ago