Katarina Witt - 1981 World Championships Short Program

[Squonkee]

Lol...I wish footwork was that easy now...

[westfaner]

shameless drug cheat... Witt

[jubbadupa]

I just watched Denise Biellmann's short program from these championships, and although she missed her combination jump, her artistry was far superior to this, and actually the entire program was. She was the eventual champion, but is comparsion.. another over marked program for Katarina,which seemed to be a running theme throughout her career.

[jubbadupa]

@jubbadupa I did mean to type" in "comparison

[nondescriptnyc]

@jubbadupa I personally agree, but, as someone who competed during that era, I'd like to point out that the standards were vasty different back then. Witt was considered sensational, with her tremendous speed, huge jumps, perky personality, etc. we hadn't ever really seen in women before. Biellmann was superb, I agree, but the judges didn't think she was a great artist, by the "artistic standards" then, so Biellmann's artistry didn't really give her much of an edge over Witt.

[Marchjoy1963]

@nondescriptnyc At this point in time Witt has only been around for 2 years (this being her second.. so she would hardly be know as the so called artist she became. Denise has been around for 5 years, and is known to be the world best free skater (that is her reputation), the judges penalized skaters hard in the short program. For missing combinations... and other required elements.. but there really was no explanation for a low second mark, by this time Denise had much improved that area.

[firmingitup]

OMG, she didn't really skate to The Muppets Show theme, did she?

[MaariieeLaLaLa]

@firmingitup She did :) i liked it though

[voulm]

on the muppets song how cool iis that hihi

[FecesHurlingMonkey1]

I'd love to give her one of my long programs.

[yodabeesh]

Great clip! Interesting choice of music... did they even show The Muppet Show behind the Iron Curtain? For all we know, Katarina had never heard of it at that point!

[nondescriptnyc]

@yodabeesh I once spoke to a former Soviet skater, who said that someone from their Federation used to go to Japan once in a while and come back with hundreds of vinyl records of movie soundtracks, easy listening, pop music, and so on, from which programs were often derived.

So, my guess is that DDR was doing the same (perhaps not Japan...). I bet the Muppet Show was never shown there, and Witt probably wasn't even aware of the nature of the music she was skating to here!

[grayandpanther]

It's good she chose original music!

[vietgrlterifa1]

I love the Muppets theme, but not for 2 minutes of the same thing over and over again. The only time it was different was during the footwork and the bit a the end.

Otherwise, good choice.

[jradetzky]

she was a child back then. Maybe she liked the Muppets

[KleverGirl1]

Katharina may have not had a choice in the music as Frau ute muller would have made the decision. Katharina has skated to nice choices of music that she can perform to. Remember that the Berlin Wall hadn't come down for another 7 years after. She was only 15 and for the East German sports stars to appear in another country they had to be extremely good, especially at the World championship level. She was a born skating champion regardless of her nationality and the political status in place.

[nondescriptnyc]

Actually, KleverGidl1, this musical choice seems typical for the Frau Mueller school of skaters. It is my impression that she usually had her skaters, from Gabby Seyfert, Christine Errath, Sonja Morgenstern to Annette Poetzsch, perform to children-oriented entertainment music while they were young.

[premierrules]

I actually like this music. Ok, bit cheesy but really boppy & cheerful, Better than the slow, over dramatic classical music the girls use nowadays. Nice triple toe-double loop combo as well. Sehr gut Katarina!

[MelleAndKev]

The combo was great funny she only did a 2 flip 2 toe in the short in 1982.

[nondescriptnyc]

Witt did a 2F-3T at 1982 Worlds and won the SP (Zayak, unfortunately, fell on the same combo to finish 10th). 1982 was the last season ISU assigned 2F as the designated combination jump (ISU used to specify one of the two jumps in combo until 1989). Most women ended up doing easy 2F-2T or 2F-2Lp combos because 2F-3T was too risky. The SP was really uneventful that year. It however allowed beautiful skaters like Kristiina Wegelius, who did not have consistent triples, to shine.

[MelleAndKev]

You're right, I just watched that program again, it was a 3T.

[defraudo]

She's the best one

[anthbig]

It's a wonder the ice didn't melt under those HOT legs!!

[jayawr]

While this may not be the most mature music selection, the short program was (and still is) about completing the required elements. Katarina did just that, and as a result, she won the short program at this World Championships. Plus, she was having fun -- she was 15. Give her a break.

[tygris]

Whoa...check out the hair! FLUFFY! LOL

[Zuranthium]

Anyone have her Long Program from this year?

[schulz1]

Just shut up - read what Alex said - I don't need to say anything more. If you are not knowledgeable then don't bother posting comments. FOOL!

[AlexYvesMartin]

What on earth is kerstenfanatic talking about

Witt having a mediocre career??? are u stupid or just not aware who she is and what she has won??? seriouslyget your head out of your ass

[schulz1]

I completely agree! What a moron!!!

[russianskatingfan]

Hehe she is so cute here. You could see a little girl so full of talent and exuberance back then.

[koolaidnhemlock]

speeeeed

[BlackStar345Rose]

she was good and all but like u said no one beats the muppets!

[nosuchpersonvideo]

I's time to put on makeup

It's time to dress up right

It's time to do a salchow at the Olympic Games tonight.

[sbe79]

I can't even watch this. I heart Katarina, but I can't associate figure skating and Muppets. I just can't.

[pellebravesskylar]

Dreadful costume, hair and music - but none of it mattered cuz Katerina's skating was so awesome that it overcame everything!

[peppe201]

Kati won the short at 81 Worlds.All of the top contenders has errors. It was a big hit as the Muppet show was at its peak at the time in US and very appealing to the audience(well at least to me) Glad the show reached the DDR.

[metsdudenj]

She even beat Zayak and Bielmann in the short? Im surprised

[lambielkwanfan]

Biellmann did a double toe combination instead of the triple toe combination she wanted, a popped triple. Zayak wiped out on her flying sit spin.

[slapshotz20]

Big hair, little girl. Loved it then, love it now!

[Chris6134]

@slapshotz20 Me too !  I really enjoyed it. Great job for such a young age.

[k9henrydog]

Big 80's hair!!! ya gotta love it! Other than excessive cross overs, I love it. There's not much difference technically between this and what she did 4 years later...you have to wonder why this is marked out of the running???? Guess it takes a little glitz and glam!~

[caitinlv]

Whoa! I've never seen this! Thank you so much for sharing.