Tonya Harding 1989 US Nationals long program

[freshsprout]

Wth? This was the first time I've seen Tonya actually perform way BETTER than her later years (post '91 gold)... the music, choreography, extensions, even the costume's simplicity was way better than her later costumes. Real shame and fall from grace.

[rickram1961]

Tonya's Ina Bauer was absolutely breathtaking in this beauty of routine!

[Dylvente]

In some ways her style and presentation were better in her earlier years, like here. Look at that Ina Bauer move -- she gave it much more extension than she would in later years. I feel like she got more cautious later in her career, even when she landed her jumps.

[rickram1961]

Magnificent to say the very least!

[davesk8]

is it me... or is this the "continuation" of elaine zayak?! not a negative!

2 of the best ever! pure joy of sk8ting!

LUV it!

[chattychar]

you know, i just realized that this is basically the same choreography as her 94' olympic performance.

[BobtailTM30]

@chattychar Yes you are totally correct. I wouldnt have noticed if not for your quote. But it is basically the same. This is much better thou! I love watching Tonya skate when she skates well!

[ft192]

I think that the placement of the jumps in this program should have been reordered. I think that she shouldhave opened with the lutz and then followed by the flip, then a loop in combination, followed by the triple toe to end the opening section. The middle would have a repeat of the loop and the salchow should have been left for the end with the two double axels.

[Sdawgmoody]

Why didn't Tonya make the world team this year. She placed 3rd. Did the US only have two spots?

[ft192]

For some reason the year after the Olympics the US only sent the top two in each discipline regardless of what the placings were at the last World Championships. It would have made sense to send the top three because the US did place well in each event at the worlds the previous year. There was no real reason given other than that was just what the tradition was in US skating at that time.

This trend thankfully ended after the 1992 Olympics.

[3370433704]

From what I recall, a country sent three skaters to the worlds if one of the skaters from the previous year's worlds medaled. However, the medaling skater had to return the next year. Debi Thomas medaled in 1988, but did not return in 1989 - same with Elaine Zayak in 1984 and Fratianne in 1980, etc. In 1993, USA send three skaters because Kerrigan medaled in 1992 and returned in 1993.

[cm1276]

@ft192 The ways the rules were back then, the skater who earned the medal at the previous year's Worlds had the spot...not the country. Therefore, the US did indeed have three spots--two for whomever they wished to send, plus one for 1988 World medalist Debi Thomas. Since she did not compete that year, the US lost her spot and could only send two. After 92, it changed to the placement belonging to the country, not individual skater.

[rickram1961]

@Sdawgmoody

Only 2 spots for the World Team from what I remembered.

[5simlane]

Thanks for posting this. I agree with the sentiments expressed at 5:26-5:30.