Michelle Kwan (USA) - 2001 Skate America, Ladies' Free Skate

[anne91276]

Sasha's spirals were the only good points of Sasha's skating, but the same cannot be said for her jumps. Sasha's footwork were quite easy for other figure skaters to execute, Mao's footworks were more difficult to execute and Michelle's artistry was just sublime. Michelle Kwan has performed the most difficult method of jumps and execution of footworks. Had Sasha performed well in her jumps, then there would be no room for us to be so critical.

[vietgrlterifa1]

I have to laugh at the comment that everything about Sasha's skating is far superior to Michelle Kwan. Extention and speed of spins, then yes. Everything else (edge quality, jump technique, basic skating skills, speed...yes speed, musical phrasing, etc.) Kwan totally owns most other skaters. That's why she was always near the top if not on top for almost a decade. It took many skaters and coaches years to catch up and take advantage of Kwan's skating weaknesses and years growing.

[bradyachin]

What is everyone's problem???? She landed 6 triple jumps, a little issue on the lutz but everything else was easy and clean. Michelle's power comes through in her technique and her effortless style, in and out of the difficult elements-- so unlike the other competitors.

I saw one comment about her diction... No one pronounces olympics OH-LIM-PIX, newsflash.

[BALISONCLARK]

This performance and the 98 program, appear to be her skating merely to set up her jumps. Her spiral does not hold a candle to Sasha Cohen, in fact I think everything about Sasha's skating is far superior to Michelle. I just get tired of how she wins the event unless she totally screws it up. She is a shoe in. Totally not fair. Her attitude is appauling off the ice. Just my optinion.

[troy0515]

@BALISONCLARK If you see how Sasha landed on her ass most of the time, and counldn't even wrestle the Gold medal out of Kimmie at world. And Irina, a powerful jumper but sloppy with some horrific choreograph, was many time favored to win at world, yet couldn't outskate Kwan.

[BALISONCLARK]

I never understood why her marks were always so high. I dont have anything against her personally, She is a beautiful skater but I think she is a diva and quite unlikeable as a woman. Did you see her at the award ceremony in 1998. Why did everyone think she deserved the gold over Tara. I was glad to see her not win Gold in 1998 and 2002.

[getrealandsee]

Sarah Hughes is the true Gold Medalist but Kwan had to have another title/record/gold/ to add to her fru fru collection.

[gingerclove]

Repeat after me, Michelle: THEE OH-LIMP-ICKS. Not "th'lympics". 

[Ugnele]

I wonder how much it affected her Olympics performance and if that was really the right thing to do. :)

[idolfan9495]

@Ugnele I think it affected her a lot. She was clearly having trouble with her flip (and seemed to have a psychological block against it at the Olympics) and a coach could have helped her by pinpointing the problem or re-working the program. Michelle also desperately needed a coach at the Olympics, for support and encouragement. She usually was unflappable but she looked a little scared as she began her long program in SLC. I think a coach--Frank C.-- could have helped calm her down.

[Karolina917]

thank you for this video! I've never seen that :) I wonder if you have dream of desdemona from nationals in 1997? I can't find it :(

[Dylvente]

Interesting piece before the performance. I never knew what the deal was with leaving Frank Carroll.