Katarina Witt 1994 Olympics long program

[kristinketelslegers]

machist!

[redredredtoo]

@claireshana Who would have won if she did not?

[pelicanus11]

SHES GOT A BIG RACK Now!

[3gatsunolion]

今の世代と見比べると、技術的に見劣りしてしまうな。

もちろん彼女たちの努力の積み重ねで今があるわけだが。

[pelicanus11]

everyone has their time !

[hitt07624]

花は何処へ行った、涙が出ます。

彼女の勇気と精神に乾杯

[TheCopper05]

This program was dedicated to the memory of the Olympics in 1984, when she skated

in Sarajevo. To me this showed the tender side of Katarina Witt. Katarina's voice

was heard when Katarina started to skate. I love watching her skate. She is

very expressive from 1984 in her first Olympics up until ten years later at these

Olympic Games. She was beautiful in this program.

[dtw1958]

............butt, hips, legs, tummy, arms..but hey gotta give her credit for doing it 'for her'

[Chris6134]

Katarina was the best of the best ! I always enjoyed her beautiful skating.

[sezwho747]

I never used to be a big fan of hers, but I think this program was first-rate even without the jumps. As opposed to her past amateur days, she brought so much more maturity and depth.

[ja3399]

Viewers here on 'Tube can express almost any opinion. And nobody has to like the same thing. How pointless (and boring) this would be. BUT...of the 115 views of this vid so far, 9 gave it a thumbs down. Honestly and sincerely, with no hostile response to you 9, why the thumbs down for Katarina here?

[ja3399]

I guess if you are an Olympic gold medalist, you are expected to win forever. There is always a target on a champion's back. I respect Katarina so much for competing here. She did not expect to medal, but would not have refused one! She has given so much to audiences over so many years. She was, and is, a beautiful, passionate, amazing woman. To critics: why should a champion have to keep up with skaters a decade or more younger? Bravo to Katarina.

[miriamstock]

She is sooo awesome. Just beautiful. She was and will be my idol in sports forever! :-)

[ollieian]

Really likes the choreography in this one. I have to respect Katarina for returning although she was a true long shot for this. She has a true love for the sport. But I don't really care about the jumps.

[yellowbanana104]

When I saw Witt in 84 and 88 looked sooo great and artistic and the were packages, but to me she looked like a little girl fighting for her Olympic dream. However, what I saw is a wonderfully matured woman who wanted to show the world something special and moving. The stage belonged to her.

[Nate1771]

Technicality be damned, one of the most meaningful programs in Olympic history. It has all been downhill since '94.

[cc4505]

A shame she couldnt land the jums..the programm was just beautiful...the 94 olympics war just fantastic and very exciting!

[FigureSk8rxx]

i love watching old skating where it wasnt all technical and having intense footwork. this is more free and artistic...like they can have one rotation of a position of a spin and still get credit for something.

[6151RichmondStreet]

For me, Oksana or Nancy can't compare to Katarina This program is for me one of the most beautiful moments in sporting history. A true embodiment of the Olympic spirit indeed.

[6151RichmondStreet]

This program is still my favourite program of all-time. Katarina is an absolute artist on the ice and this program came from such a beautiful place that clearly reflects Katarina's character. A lovely tribute to the people of Sarajevo. I agree, this was a magic moment and somewhere in the stars it was written that Katarina would skate to Pete Seeger's masterpiece and create a marvelous moment in history. I don't care if she lands any jumps,I could watch her all day long.Always a 6.0 for me.

[Ricky0101]

I was working at the Swissotel in Boston in 1994 and waited on her. She was classy, gracious, and she appreciated her fans. She gave me an autograph (in German). I thought it was a bad idea for former medalists to come back and try to steal the glory from the young kids. Luckily, none of them did. But she is one of the greatest.

[Blastaar7]

She's sooo fine.

[pics2share]

I always thought she was rather overrated, and at times did not

always deserve to be scored as highly as she was sometimes.

[SAX713]

the ukraine judge was harsh

[mikonido]

she is not exactly on top form here but as usual she nails her routine...she is so sexy on ice...

[spacenurse]

I wept when Katarina Witt skated to Sag mir wo die Blumen sind ("Where Have All the Flowers Gone?") as a peace message for the people of Sarajevo, where she won her 1st Olympic medal.

It's among my favorite Olympic performances.

#1 was Wilma Rudolph

[Cheydow]

I honestly don't see how she won. I mean... that wasn't really a good program.

[prescient8]

Have you tried watching it with your eyes open?

[Cheydow]

Im and ice skater and I absoulutley love to watch it. Im not criticizing I mean she way better then I will probably ever be. But I was just saying.. She made some pretty big mistakes.

[blaubaby]

she didn't win. she came in sixth at these olylmpics i believe. she won 84 and 88

[Cheydow]

oooh.. sry i miss read the description in the info box thing.

[Cheydow]

whoever put a thumbs down on this post sucks. xP

[koolaidnhemlock]

um, she didn't win. she placed 7th. she won in 84 and 88.

[Cheydow]

ya i realize that. if you looked up you woulda realized someone already told me that and i made a mistake. T_T

[sumimimi0]

ukaraine is it?gave her so low marks..

[plap1982]

Honestly, I think in Witt's case the most important was her attitude. What it counts here is that she made a tribute to the city where she won her first olympic gold medal - and by that time (1994) devastated by war.

[koolaidnhemlock]

this made me fall in love with skating.

[Tina29x]

Whis stupid journalist constantly blab something. It is not nice at all.

[Volker180]

Great Katerina the one and only

[sooniemix]

Only until Michele and Yuna Kim

[jradetzky]

Where has all the technique gone?

[jradetzky]

she lost her balance because she had bigger breasts than in 88 and 84

[Dodicistelle]

I say "GOOD"!

[audgeyp]

jratdtzky-yeah, being top-heavy isn't a good thing for a figure skater. Plus, she's kind of on the big side as it is. Not calling her fat by any means but she's not like a Tara Lipinsky-type petite figure.

[koolaidnhemlock]

no, shes a 28 year old woman with a real woman's body. *scandal!*

[jradetzky]

@audgeyp I hope Kim Yu-Na doesn't develop huge breasts when she grows up

[audgeyp]

@jradetzky -I know! I don't know why ppl thought my comment deserved a thumbs-down. I'm not saying she's Katarina's a hefty woman or anything. She's not really, but for a figure skater it's better to be on the super skinny side, especially if you're going to try to do triples and stuff.

[jradetzky]

@audgeyp Agree. I saw Kati's photos in Playboy and she's a very beautiful woman, not overweight at all. However, for a skater that is not good. She was just a kid when she won, same as Yu-Na in 2010. Kids grow up and become beautiful women.

[libralady1010]

@jradetzky she was also 6 years OLDER-28 as opposed to 22 in Calgary; had been skating as a pro in the years between Calgary amd Lillehammer and THAT combined w/the age factor as well as the B.S. surrounding Kerrigan/Harding and the " Ukranian Orphan," who turned out to have a father who was still very much alive, factored in as well.

[uzytkownik1971]

Katarina- the best of the best ever!!!

And extraordinary artist,too.

[Msbehopeful]

You are a skater to remember.

Kudos on this brave come-back!

[libralady1010]

Katarina was THE one bright spot in the Ladies event in these Olympics. With the Nancy/Tanya saga, the overkill on the coverage-boo hoo @Tanya's broken skate lace, Kerrigan's remark @ Bauil "crying her makeup off all over again," it was nice to see Kati come back and do this. Compete for a united Germany but mainly to do it for her parents - the first time they'd ever seen their daughter compete in the Olympics.They were never allowed to leave East Germany to watch her compete.She is great!

[leannecollins1]

where could i get this version of this music, ive been trying for ages and cant source it anywhere!! Please help if you can.

[iceroby72]

no way to get this music anywhere...Katarina Witt herself collaborated on the arrangement with another producer... this version was recorded the way it is expecially for her... for her long program

[gaggi52]

she was great!

[Janiula]

nie podobał mi sie jej program i muzyka nie za ciekawa ;/

[432player]

I love skating for retired people; you defeat gravitation on the ice, try it!!!

You cant be always in the bathtube, try it, you'll love it!!!

[tap585grad706]

I am a Canadian songwriter. I have always dreamed of Katarina Witt skating to my song. It is an original song about taking a long journey and searching for your destiny. Even though I am not famous, my song is a tribute to all those people who have overcome hardships to live their dreams. The song is called, "Where I Belong" by Vince Ravon. It is on youtube. Search for it. It is for you. Best Wishes, Vince Ravon!

[ZOLTAN357]

In 1994-th year wasn't any Olimpiade.Possible the World Championship.

[brotighan]

You are wrong. There were the XVII Winter Olympic Games held in Lillehammer.

[annietart]

correct, the IOC wanted the winter and summer games separated so they added an extra Winter games held in Lillehammer, Narway.

[JPAnatol]

A true artist, a great skater and a beautiful message. Thank you Katarina to share again your passion of skating through this last olympic performance.

[CosmicSpeck]

She'd lost her competitive skills.

She stated to have done this for the people of Sarejevo & because her parents had never seen her do an Olympic performance.I suspect she also did this for attention cuz she posed nude that same year for Playboy.

It's a beautiful program (even with the mistakes) but it also made me sad.Witt's a true ICON of her sport but should former Ice Queens try to return to their glory days?They're never as good as we remember & that's depressing.

[ANTINOUS75M]

A beautiful program, with a lot of emotions.

[sbe79]

She didn't pose nude for Playboy the same year. It was a good 5 years later. While I think her errors were uncharacteristic as far as her previous Olympic performances, this was the worst performance of the program. You ought to check out the German National Championships for that year. Not a single mistake!

[AbFabFreakk]

Well...

I still liked the performance. :P

[6151RichmondStreet]

Her performance always brings me to tears.  She is such a beautiful genuine skater.

[sebringkiddd]

well not so good day for her to perform but atleast she won to olympic gold medals the only women to win back to back

[a5615]

Actually Sonja Henie won three consecutive gold medals

[pepperink]

beautiful.

honesty, passion and a true artistic feel for what she is doing. she is a dancer.

[AlexYvesMartin]

Sadly I was shocked when she performed so badly because i saw some training sessions and she was amazing landing even the triple loop.....

[CosmicSpeck]

I give Katarina respect for doing this. There's a maturity and beauty that less experienced skaters don't have--that most skaters don't possess!

But, technically, she was past it and the magic of being in her prime was gone! Sad when an athlete is past it.

She must of loved skating that much to try and do the impossible. But, maybe she wasn't trying to win and just wanted to give a great performance and recapture the joy of competition.

Gotta love her.

[6151RichmondStreet]

She wasn't competing to win. She obviously wanted to skate to the best of her ability, which she felt slightly short of technically but she came back because she wanted to experience the magic of the Olympics again and she wanted to skate in tribute to the people of Sarajevo.

[stevief19]

I am one of Katarina's biggest fans. Nicky Slater said what was right. She did not have the technical ability to compete with the women of that time. She did only land one triple jump cleanly - the triple toe. However, the second mark did reflect how good the perfomance was eg. GB judge 5.2 5.8

There was good quality to everything she did, unfortunately other skaters did more difficult elements. No matter what she remains one of the best female skaters of all time

[RandallJonesey]

Die Katarina! Die schönste Frau in der Geschichte Sport!

[barkingtree88]

It's so great that this was the last performance.

[frauB78]

...she´s so much greater than any notes...no matter what anyone say´s...

[clarriona]

the 6th place was still way too good for her.

[zecrazygerman]

that British commentator is so vile. Why didn´t he just shut up? I mean everything he said was so obvious, and then he was actually pretty evil towards Katarina.

[invaderNoah12]

Agreed. When she landed the second Triple Toe Loop, he was very sarcastic, "Oh, there's another triple Toe" after he had finished chewing out her technical skills. She competed this dramatically better at the German Nationals. Too bad she didn't do that same performance here. It would have shut that Brit commentator up.

[zecrazygerman]

I guess it was all a bit anti-climatic for her. I mean she had nothing to win here, the medals were given out already. so I suppose it was difficult for her to build up the necessary tension. back at the German nationals, it was a lot more important that she got through okay. but it also makes me sad she didn´t do it better. well, she did have 3 triples.

[zecrazygerman]

I think she should have left the jumps out. this was her final performance in figure skating. she was the very last skater that night, which was quite unexpected to begin with. She was not going to win a medal anyway and had an anti-war statement. So competitive, that girl

[susiefx]

Has anyone every found where you can obtain her freeskate music (Where Have All the Flowers Gone?) on CD?

I tried in 1994 but never found it. I believe it was specially composed for her.

[sbe79]

Couldn't someone maybe find the American version with Scott Hamilton commentating? There's too much chatter in this. Scott knows when to shut up, usually.

[SaxxonThespian]

I really wish both the UK and Jap commentators would shut the fuck up

and just let there be silence because

this is magnificent.

[schulz1]

Oh like the Americans ever know when to keep their mouths shut!

[splinterlake]

i love how both the UK and Japanese commentators simultaenously have a good laugh at the obese American booing her marks! LMAO

[deshania]

Those are Chinese, not Japanese, commentators... CTV (Chinese TV)

[sososomomomo]

They are not japanese commentators but chinese!!!!!!

[aquamarineeyes]

Awesome !

[UnoriginalJess92]

I know Katarina wasn't aiming at a medal, but somehow, watching this skate was like watching Sasha Cohen. Absolutely gorgeous- and then she stumbles during a landing.

Still, this was artistically very pretty (if not Olympic material).

[delayedricochet]

I don't think any should have reinstated except Torvill and Dean. That pair is unlike anything and are always welcome. About the others, they either weren't near the level of the field (like Witt), or either they just had their time and glory already. Kielmann would surely have been in top10 because at this period she was doing well at Euros, being German champion and made top 10 in Albertville. And she had the content, which is why she placed 4th at the World's a few months after Lillehammer.

[MelissaBelleK]

(In reply to delayedricochet):

What about Gordeeva and Grinkov? I know they had a few slight errors in their program, but the Beethoven number really showed how much they grew up. They always skated with beautiful lines but there was definitely a difference in the way the connect with each other on the ice. I feel privileged as a skating fan... to have witnessed that moment. That was truly magical... just my thoughts.

[delayedricochet]

Beautiful couple, but they could have just done their new work in the pros. And there were so many pro competitions and tours more than just one Olympic games. It was time for others.

[Darkangel127]

Exactly! And what about Mishkutienok&Dmitriev? They delivered their best performance ever!

[skaterfan1]

I agree that Katarina should probably not have reinstated, but apart from Gordeeva and Grinkov, I think none of them should. Thank god though that Katarina took Kielmans spot. I doubt very much Marina would have been top 10.

[delayedricochet]

Such a moving message, beautiful program, but did she really have to reinstate? She did not have the technical content and we know she wanted to deliver her message but she should have just asked the ISU if she could perform at the exhibitions maybe. Plus, she took Marina Kielmann's spot at Olympics - and this one was a real competitor. Not fair.

[sbe79]

Eh... they wouldn't have let her perform, I bet. Todd Eldredge asked to skate exhibitions at various US Nationals when he wasn't competing and the USFSA turned him every time. Katarina earned her spot on the German team. Marina may have had more reliable jumps, but her artistry was horribly lacking half the time.

[JP852]

I agree about Marina, a great skater, but seemed to skate 'through' the music rather than to it.

However, from that technical point of view, there were some gaps in Katarina's program, in jumps and steps. She was never a medal contender. Should Marina have had to sacrifice her 2nd Olympics to Katarina's 3rd?

[JP852]

Ooops, mistake, it would have been Marina's 3rd Olympics too. Sorry!

[delayedricochet]

I think that Kielmann should have been Germany's No.2 at Lillehammer not only because she was more of a competitor, but because we would have seen a lot of Witt anyways in the pros. And remember the skating boom during this time which produced more competitions, tours and television coverage. Kielmann was not going to be like a Witt skating a lot in the pros, and she didn't.

[hotwriter36]

I love the way when she skates forward, she pulls her arms and shoulders back. Beautiful style.

[MATTISCALLED]

why did she go down so much with her skill? Is it because she was older? I do give her credit for doing another olympics.

[Astardis]

She started do go down with her skills very early in her career. Back in 81 or so she mastered a triple Flip jump in competition. My personal guess is that her relatively large breasts had something to do with it.

[Zuranthium]

LMAO! Awesome comment.

[masinindy]

That was about a 4.7/5.0 performance if I have ever seen one.

[yngtxtopbear]

Heh the UKR judge wanted to make SURE DRUNKSANA was going to win! The UKR judge tanked Witt down to 20th place or something!

[Rolex5513]

This was all about emotion and honoring Sarejevo, she knew damm well she wouldn't medal. It was a tribute from a truly great champion.

Bravo Katarina, still gives me chills.

[SwissMan73]

what a wonderful program!

[bbtantan]

5.5 for technical merit from the US judge? Talk about generous!! 5.0 would be perfectly fair. As fo the program...nice interpretation and she is very emotive and charismatic. Sometimes her body carriage can be a bit hunched over though.

[vietgrlterifa]

I agree. Two triple toes and a double axel? I also think those illusion spins at the end sort of ruined the statue-esque beauty of this program. Nice sentiment though.

[sbe79]

Yeah... some of the scores were a little generous. It was a gorgeous, emotive program nonetheless, and I'm sure that is what they scored. Katarina almost seemed like she had choreographed a PROFESSIONAL artistic performance rather than one designed for Olympic competition. I noticed the lack of a spiral sequence and the footwork sequence, well she is capable of better than that. Great job going after the Triple Loop... she didn't even complete one in '88 (Calgary), if I remember correctly.

[Zuranthium]

She DID have a Spiral and Footwork Sequence, sbe79. The Spiral is really short (starts at 3:03) and her footwork sequence comes right after it.

[sbe79]

Well, I do see the spiral... but there isn't a sequence of them, which is the norm for a long program. The footwork sequence is also present, I know, but it's a little slow and very stop-and-go, for that I just meant that I've seen her do more intricate steps post-Lillehamer. I realize that including those elements might have compromised the theme of the program, so I'm not complaining.

[sekretaznman81]

back in the day, sequences were popular in short programs. in the long program, step and spiral sequences were spread out through the program. here and there...

[principessa0007]

best program of all-time