Great. getrealandsee now posts about Kwan on Butyrskaya's videos as well? Though I have to say that Butyrskaya at her best would have easily won Olympic gold in 2002. Her 1999 title was not a fluke.
Oh my God! This has GOT to be the most breathtaking SP in figure skating history. Magical, lyrical, with a divine flow. I can watch this a zillion times and still melt on my screen.
@warriorgr I agree with you - I think it was absolutely exceptional - maybe the two Americans had better spirals but her jumps were rock solid and better and the interpretation is spellbounding. I'd have pushed for a 6.0 for her for presentation. Lesser programmes have received one.
And since you mention the 80s there were no weak World medalists, and you cant count the few "figures" specialists who won medals since they were exceptional at something that was a major part of the scoring then like it or not. The 96-2004 period produced Gusmeroli, Sokolova, and Soldatova all winning World medals like I said. And it very nearly produced a past her prime Hubert, Malinina, Onda, as world medalists too.
what passed as "artistry" or a spiral sequence before the mid-90's falls way short of what was required in 96 onward. It's funny, I actually think a lot of skating fans feel that the very period you mention 96-2002 was a high point in skating, It certainly attracted the largest audience ever, and imo the most well-rounded programs. No longer was standing in one place and flirting (ala Witt) enough to get high presentation marks.
@mlc2005 Yes a high period in skating produced Sarah Hughes as an Olympic Champion, Maria Butyrskaya having an easy chance to be a 2 time World Champion, and Gusmeroli, Soldatova, and Sokolova all winning World medals, and Malinina winning a Grand Prix final. Please, take a reality pill please.
@mlc2005 I love Maria and her underdog story and was happy she won Worlds. However I have to agree with grafgirl that this was a weak era and it is the main reason Kwan won 5 Worlds. Lets say Michelle never existed, do you realize Irina would have won 5 or 6 Worlds in that case (she won 2 and was 2nd to MK 3 times). And if she didnt choke Irina would have won both the 02 and 06 Olympics. What does that say about this era that a skater like Irina could have won 5 Worlds and 2 Olympics?
@raichmaneuvers: Here's what bugs me about your argument though. Because you say Kwan didn't have "tough competition," that somehow implies that she doesn't deserve all the praise she has received. It's not Kwan's fault what her competition was or wasn't. What matters is the performances that she gave, perfectly, and repeatedly. She towered over her competition, I agree, but there was a reason for that: She was that much better. So was Michael Jordan in his prime; so was Roger Federer.
@raichmaneuvers You mean the lovely Japanese skater who only won the Olympics because Kwannikins had a groin owie that hurted too much for her to let her 'heart sing'..gee, for someone who skates with 'her heart' you would think a little old groin owie would be nothing...the groin isn't anywhere near the heart is it? Oh and Sarah?OLYMPIC GOLD 2002.TARA OLYMPIC GOLD 1998. Sasha TRUE BRONZE MEDALIST IN 2002. hmm.sounds like it's a good thing Kwannie is gonnie or whatever would figure skating do?
@raichmaneuvers And this is the same Kwannikins who petitioned..as in PETITIONED, WHINED, BEGGED for a spot on the Olympic Team USA 2006 and then after her fell on the ice (big news)...and her was tiwed because her had to fwy first class and march in with the real team (FACE TIME...PHOTO OP)...and besides her wittle hand was tired from screwing Emily Hughes out of her dream. That Michelle? She had 'well rounded' programs? Gee, isn't is odd that she doesn't have Olympic Gold to show for it?
@raichmaneuvers And then poor poor wittle Michelle dwopped out ...but only AFTER a sappy phony press conference, interviews, and sucking all she could out of the 2006 Olympics...throwing the leftovers to Emily Hughes...completely disgraced figure skating, the USA, and the Olympic Creed!! Oh, and this is the 'if I can walk I can skate' Shelly the Shyster Kwan..
Oh yeah this was a great skate for Maria, probably her best short program ever. One of the few times she ver beat a clean Kwan or Slutskaya, both who skated cleanly in the short here and placed below her. However with the gold medal at her fingertips she then choked in the long program as usual, and her short lived status as World Champion was thus over forever, back to more suitable true "champion" level skaters.
@grafgirl27 Just please read my comment before replying. I didn't say she was a legend, I was commenting on your statement that she was "not a strong skater." As far as I am concerned, anyone in the top ten of any worlds qualifies as a "strong skater." There are 10's of thousands of skaters out there trying to make it, so for u to say a world champ (and several other medals) is not strong is ridiculous.
@mlc2005 She won those medals since she lucked out to be in a weak era with little depth. I said that about Kwan too, she was very lucky to be in the 1996-2004 era which was the weakest era in figure skating history. All the skaters who were in this era won more titles and medals than they would have any other. Skaters like Jennifer Robinson and Elena Liashenko in the top 10 every year. Skaters like Suguri on the podium most years. And the real capper- Sarah Hughes won the Olympics.
@grafgirl27 What skaters do you like? I don't know where you're getting your conclusions. Have you seen the number 9 skater for example, at worlds in 1985, 1991, etc?? U make it sound like they were all Michael Jordans, and then BOOM, 1996 came along. I think Ito set the standard in 1990 to push ladies skating to new heights, where women going forward had to do much harder jumps to compete. I look at some of the 3rd place winners at worlds in the 80's and stratch my head. And looking at...
A better comment for Dick Button on Butyrskaya's spirals would have been, "Very nice spiral sequence." No need to stress that it wasn't as good as Kwan and Hughes. It actually covered the ice very well, and the first spiral position was very attractive even if it didn't have the greatest extension.
@mic2005 & @leonidasse I am British and I love Michelle Kwan (HUGE fan) and also adore the quality that Maria Butrskaya.
They both skate with 'heart', as Dick Button would say. Dick Button is always a bit biased when an American is in contention but he does give credit where it's due and, here it is certainly due.
I really think we, as fans, are so lucky to be able to watch all these great programs on here. So, again, I say, thank you for uploading!
I'd say that there's been only one lady out there on ice - and that's Maria. None of her sports opponents could stand up to the level of her maestry in elegance and sophisticated beauty of her skating. As for the commentary here - this program could only appeal to the European sensitivity, which is so different from the American one. That's why one concentrates on how an element is worse or better in comparison to Kwan's performance rather than share the emotional thrill Butyrskaya has caused.
@leonidasse: I agree to an extent. I'm not sure if there's really a particular "European sensitivity" that Americans can't get though. The commentators here were actually very nice about everything except the spiral and lay back (her spiral was not as good as Kwan's). Remember, this is a technical program, and their job is to point out each component and comment on it. I'm American, and I LOVE Maria and this program. I think Kwan is the best, not for being from US, but for her artistry.
When Maria was on, she was one of the most enjoyable skaters to watch. I This was one of her best performances. I love her sophisticated lines, posture, correctness of edges, especially on the triple lutz. She was a lady among girls (with a few exceptions like Kwan).
Maria Butyrskya - one of the best yet underrated skaters of ALL time! Her maturity on the ice is exquisite, and her expression on the ice is incredible. This program has left an indelible mark in skating history!
If she skated like this more often and was only viewed as she is now, with only the career medal count she has now, she would have been one of the most underrated skaters of all time. In reality though that was far from the case, this performance, her free skates at the 98 Europeans and 99 Nationals, and her 2 performances at the 99 Worlds are the only 5 performances out of the 100 or so she ever gave to this level of skating. Hence why she isnt regarded higher or with more medals and wins.
I would also add the Olympics 98 short program, which was amazing, as well as her short program at the 97 worlds and her free skate at the 98 worlds, 00 euros and 01 worlds. The programs you mentioned and those above are indicative of her abilities and how beautiful and mesmerizing she could be when she was on.
raichmaneuvers: She gave several other performances of this quality; just look at some other youtube clips (1998 olympic short program, many grand slams, 1996 centennial-both short and long, 2000 euros free, etc). I think she took a while to get her confidence up, and she always struggled with nerves, which is a shame. I saw her live once, and her practices were smooth and always flawless, and then she got stiff because of nerves. Still, a fav. bc of her unique qualities, and perfect lutz.
Some of those you point out were good but they most certainly were not up to the level of the skates I referred to. Her 98 Olympic short program was very good but on par with this, LOL, no way. You do remember she was an extremely distant 3rd behind Kwan and Lipinski right. 1996 Centenial on ice!?!? Her short was good there (still not up to the level of this and she only tied for 1st in the short with a pre prime immature Slutskaya) but her long there was a mess.
You are wrong on Centennial on Ice where I distinctly remember that she landed her first 4 triples and then fell on a triple toe and stumbled out of a triple loop and triple toe combos but who cares.
That Maria doesnt even have an Olympic medal tells you all you need to know. In 1998 she couldnt even beat a way past her prime Lu Chen with by then crappy technical abilities for a medal. In 2002 she couldnt even medal in an event that ended up so weak the horrendous Hughes won gold.
@mlc2005 I am sorry but Maria is not a strong skater. She was only a threat for a few years since it was such a weak era for women skating. Other than Kwan and an inconsistent Irina there was really nobody else there for a few years. Tara retired at 15, Hughes and Cohen were not threats yet, Gusmeroli went downhill after her 97 medal. There was a huge hole near the top of the womens field and Maria took advantage. In no other era would she win a World title and have a chance to win 2 or 3.
@grafgirl27 : I think what you are missing here is that Maria won her world championship in 1999 with two flawless routines, including her free which was a seven triple, perfect program. Many, many world champs have not been able to accomplish this, particularly under so much pressure. While I agree that Maria is not in the same league as Kwan or Irina in terms of consistency, she IS a strong skater. U can't win worlds with a 7 triple free and not be considered a strong skater.
@mlc2005 First of all are you actually disputing what a weak year it was the year Maria won. Kwan had the flu and was subpar and still won the silver. Malinina a career nobody would have won the silver had she not stepped out of a jump in the short. Soldatova a junior caliber skater won the bronze. And winning with 7 triples does not make you a legend. Hughes and Miki Ando won Worlds or Olympics with 7 triples and difficult triple-triples Maria didnt try, and they still arent greats.
If there has ever been a short program worth of a 6.0, this is definitely the ONE! IMO the best SP ever! When Maria got it right she was in a class of her own. Too bad she wasn't very often that consistent with her technique.
I always thought that skaters weren't allowed to have vocals with their music.. Was this okay because there were no words? Just curious.. Anyway, loved this performance.. I too agree that there should have been a few 6's for presentation.
Those marks are crazy. Why no 6.0s for presentation!!? This was easily worth a 6.0 for presentation. Also technical marks should be more 5.9s. Yeah the last 2 elements were so soish, but the other 6 were just amazing this day.
I keep coming back to this, and several of kwan's, programs. This really makes me miss the old judging system (faults and all). We no longer have skaters who have DISTINCTIVE styles!
... and which he fails to criticise when it comes to American skaters. Michelle Kwan has one of the weakest layback spins in the world and yet he has never been nit-picky about it.
That was a truly beautiful performance by Maria! Well done!
I really miss Maria. I dont know exactly what it was about her, but I was just mezmorized whenever she took the ice, and was always hoping she would do well. This was an incredible program.
really one of her best programs ever, loves it
Taan123 3 months ago
This short program is just so, so beautiful. I absolutely adore Sarah Brightman, and I love this sport so much.
WickedProductions100 4 months ago
Great. getrealandsee now posts about Kwan on Butyrskaya's videos as well? Though I have to say that Butyrskaya at her best would have easily won Olympic gold in 2002. Her 1999 title was not a fluke.
dc19921000 7 months ago 2
Oh my God! This has GOT to be the most breathtaking SP in figure skating history. Magical, lyrical, with a divine flow. I can watch this a zillion times and still melt on my screen.
warriorgr 10 months ago
@warriorgr I agree with you - I think it was absolutely exceptional - maybe the two Americans had better spirals but her jumps were rock solid and better and the interpretation is spellbounding. I'd have pushed for a 6.0 for her for presentation. Lesser programmes have received one.
schulz1 8 months ago
Five years after Kwan retired from skating and getreal is STILL posting shit about her. I think that says more about getreal than about Kwan frankly.
mlc2005 11 months ago
what is the music name?
beuuus21 1 year ago
And since you mention the 80s there were no weak World medalists, and you cant count the few "figures" specialists who won medals since they were exceptional at something that was a major part of the scoring then like it or not. The 96-2004 period produced Gusmeroli, Sokolova, and Soldatova all winning World medals like I said. And it very nearly produced a past her prime Hubert, Malinina, Onda, as world medalists too.
grafgirl27 1 year ago
what passed as "artistry" or a spiral sequence before the mid-90's falls way short of what was required in 96 onward. It's funny, I actually think a lot of skating fans feel that the very period you mention 96-2002 was a high point in skating, It certainly attracted the largest audience ever, and imo the most well-rounded programs. No longer was standing in one place and flirting (ala Witt) enough to get high presentation marks.
mlc2005 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@mlc2005 blah blah blah mlcunt2005....who gives a shit what you think?
twilliger123 1 year ago
@mlc2005 Yes a high period in skating produced Sarah Hughes as an Olympic Champion, Maria Butyrskaya having an easy chance to be a 2 time World Champion, and Gusmeroli, Soldatova, and Sokolova all winning World medals, and Malinina winning a Grand Prix final. Please, take a reality pill please.
grafgirl27 1 year ago
@mlc2005 I love Maria and her underdog story and was happy she won Worlds. However I have to agree with grafgirl that this was a weak era and it is the main reason Kwan won 5 Worlds. Lets say Michelle never existed, do you realize Irina would have won 5 or 6 Worlds in that case (she won 2 and was 2nd to MK 3 times). And if she didnt choke Irina would have won both the 02 and 06 Olympics. What does that say about this era that a skater like Irina could have won 5 Worlds and 2 Olympics?
raichmaneuvers 1 year ago
@raichmaneuvers: Here's what bugs me about your argument though. Because you say Kwan didn't have "tough competition," that somehow implies that she doesn't deserve all the praise she has received. It's not Kwan's fault what her competition was or wasn't. What matters is the performances that she gave, perfectly, and repeatedly. She towered over her competition, I agree, but there was a reason for that: She was that much better. So was Michael Jordan in his prime; so was Roger Federer.
mlc2005 11 months ago
and who exactly produced well rounded programs? Michelle who else?
Chen- weak spins, so so footwork, inconsistent jumps
Slutskaya- ugly positions (except on jumps and spins) and not great artistry
Butyrskaya- weak spiral, jump landings usually not very good, inconsistent
Hughes- flutz, cheated jumps, bad posture
Cohen- weak edges, lack of speed, inconsistent and small jumps
Maybe Tara but you cant count her when she retired at 15. And Shizuka who only emerged at the end of Kwans career.
raichmaneuvers 1 year ago
@raichmaneuvers You mean the lovely Japanese skater who only won the Olympics because Kwannikins had a groin owie that hurted too much for her to let her 'heart sing'..gee, for someone who skates with 'her heart' you would think a little old groin owie would be nothing...the groin isn't anywhere near the heart is it? Oh and Sarah?OLYMPIC GOLD 2002.TARA OLYMPIC GOLD 1998. Sasha TRUE BRONZE MEDALIST IN 2002. hmm.sounds like it's a good thing Kwannie is gonnie or whatever would figure skating do?
getrealandsee 11 months ago
@raichmaneuvers And this is the same Kwannikins who petitioned..as in PETITIONED, WHINED, BEGGED for a spot on the Olympic Team USA 2006 and then after her fell on the ice (big news)...and her was tiwed because her had to fwy first class and march in with the real team (FACE TIME...PHOTO OP)...and besides her wittle hand was tired from screwing Emily Hughes out of her dream. That Michelle? She had 'well rounded' programs? Gee, isn't is odd that she doesn't have Olympic Gold to show for it?
getrealandsee 11 months ago
@raichmaneuvers And then poor poor wittle Michelle dwopped out ...but only AFTER a sappy phony press conference, interviews, and sucking all she could out of the 2006 Olympics...throwing the leftovers to Emily Hughes...completely disgraced figure skating, the USA, and the Olympic Creed!! Oh, and this is the 'if I can walk I can skate' Shelly the Shyster Kwan..
getrealandsee 11 months ago
Oh yeah this was a great skate for Maria, probably her best short program ever. One of the few times she ver beat a clean Kwan or Slutskaya, both who skated cleanly in the short here and placed below her. However with the gold medal at her fingertips she then choked in the long program as usual, and her short lived status as World Champion was thus over forever, back to more suitable true "champion" level skaters.
grafgirl27 1 year ago
@grafgirl27 Just please read my comment before replying. I didn't say she was a legend, I was commenting on your statement that she was "not a strong skater." As far as I am concerned, anyone in the top ten of any worlds qualifies as a "strong skater." There are 10's of thousands of skaters out there trying to make it, so for u to say a world champ (and several other medals) is not strong is ridiculous.
mlc2005 1 year ago
@mlc2005 She won those medals since she lucked out to be in a weak era with little depth. I said that about Kwan too, she was very lucky to be in the 1996-2004 era which was the weakest era in figure skating history. All the skaters who were in this era won more titles and medals than they would have any other. Skaters like Jennifer Robinson and Elena Liashenko in the top 10 every year. Skaters like Suguri on the podium most years. And the real capper- Sarah Hughes won the Olympics.
grafgirl27 1 year ago
@grafgirl27 What skaters do you like? I don't know where you're getting your conclusions. Have you seen the number 9 skater for example, at worlds in 1985, 1991, etc?? U make it sound like they were all Michael Jordans, and then BOOM, 1996 came along. I think Ito set the standard in 1990 to push ladies skating to new heights, where women going forward had to do much harder jumps to compete. I look at some of the 3rd place winners at worlds in the 80's and stratch my head. And looking at...
mlc2005 1 year ago
A better comment for Dick Button on Butyrskaya's spirals would have been, "Very nice spiral sequence." No need to stress that it wasn't as good as Kwan and Hughes. It actually covered the ice very well, and the first spiral position was very attractive even if it didn't have the greatest extension.
Dylvente 1 year ago 2
songname pls!!!
wonderful program :) <3
nAdDlEkAtI 1 year ago
@mic2005 & @leonidasse I am British and I love Michelle Kwan (HUGE fan) and also adore the quality that Maria Butrskaya.
They both skate with 'heart', as Dick Button would say. Dick Button is always a bit biased when an American is in contention but he does give credit where it's due and, here it is certainly due.
I really think we, as fans, are so lucky to be able to watch all these great programs on here. So, again, I say, thank you for uploading!
muscleboi4use 2 years ago
I'd say that there's been only one lady out there on ice - and that's Maria. None of her sports opponents could stand up to the level of her maestry in elegance and sophisticated beauty of her skating. As for the commentary here - this program could only appeal to the European sensitivity, which is so different from the American one. That's why one concentrates on how an element is worse or better in comparison to Kwan's performance rather than share the emotional thrill Butyrskaya has caused.
leonidasse 2 years ago 4
@leonidasse: I agree to an extent. I'm not sure if there's really a particular "European sensitivity" that Americans can't get though. The commentators here were actually very nice about everything except the spiral and lay back (her spiral was not as good as Kwan's). Remember, this is a technical program, and their job is to point out each component and comment on it. I'm American, and I LOVE Maria and this program. I think Kwan is the best, not for being from US, but for her artistry.
mlc2005 2 years ago
When Maria was on, she was one of the most enjoyable skaters to watch. I This was one of her best performances. I love her sophisticated lines, posture, correctness of edges, especially on the triple lutz. She was a lady among girls (with a few exceptions like Kwan).
NashfanVash 2 years ago
Gorgeous!!
hilljacknutjob 2 years ago
Wonderful!!!
b2367 2 years ago
Maria Butyrskya - one of the best yet underrated skaters of ALL time! Her maturity on the ice is exquisite, and her expression on the ice is incredible. This program has left an indelible mark in skating history!
trojanrob24 2 years ago 15
I agree. I was thrilled for her when she won Worlds in 1999-well deserved.
Her SP here has a loveliness about it-haunting, beautiful, ethereal.
faeryquene 2 years ago 2
If she skated like this more often and was only viewed as she is now, with only the career medal count she has now, she would have been one of the most underrated skaters of all time. In reality though that was far from the case, this performance, her free skates at the 98 Europeans and 99 Nationals, and her 2 performances at the 99 Worlds are the only 5 performances out of the 100 or so she ever gave to this level of skating. Hence why she isnt regarded higher or with more medals and wins.
raichmaneuvers 2 years ago
I would also add the Olympics 98 short program, which was amazing, as well as her short program at the 97 worlds and her free skate at the 98 worlds, 00 euros and 01 worlds. The programs you mentioned and those above are indicative of her abilities and how beautiful and mesmerizing she could be when she was on.
warriorgr 2 years ago
raichmaneuvers: She gave several other performances of this quality; just look at some other youtube clips (1998 olympic short program, many grand slams, 1996 centennial-both short and long, 2000 euros free, etc). I think she took a while to get her confidence up, and she always struggled with nerves, which is a shame. I saw her live once, and her practices were smooth and always flawless, and then she got stiff because of nerves. Still, a fav. bc of her unique qualities, and perfect lutz.
mlc2005 2 years ago 2
Some of those you point out were good but they most certainly were not up to the level of the skates I referred to. Her 98 Olympic short program was very good but on par with this, LOL, no way. You do remember she was an extremely distant 3rd behind Kwan and Lipinski right. 1996 Centenial on ice!?!? Her short was good there (still not up to the level of this and she only tied for 1st in the short with a pre prime immature Slutskaya) but her long there was a mess.
raichmaneuvers 2 years ago
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mlc2005 2 years ago
Comment removed
raichmaneuvers 2 years ago
You are wrong on Centennial on Ice where I distinctly remember that she landed her first 4 triples and then fell on a triple toe and stumbled out of a triple loop and triple toe combos but who cares.
That Maria doesnt even have an Olympic medal tells you all you need to know. In 1998 she couldnt even beat a way past her prime Lu Chen with by then crappy technical abilities for a medal. In 2002 she couldnt even medal in an event that ended up so weak the horrendous Hughes won gold.
raichmaneuvers 2 years ago
Comment removed
mlc2005 2 years ago
@mlc2005 I am sorry but Maria is not a strong skater. She was only a threat for a few years since it was such a weak era for women skating. Other than Kwan and an inconsistent Irina there was really nobody else there for a few years. Tara retired at 15, Hughes and Cohen were not threats yet, Gusmeroli went downhill after her 97 medal. There was a huge hole near the top of the womens field and Maria took advantage. In no other era would she win a World title and have a chance to win 2 or 3.
grafgirl27 1 year ago
@grafgirl27 : I think what you are missing here is that Maria won her world championship in 1999 with two flawless routines, including her free which was a seven triple, perfect program. Many, many world champs have not been able to accomplish this, particularly under so much pressure. While I agree that Maria is not in the same league as Kwan or Irina in terms of consistency, she IS a strong skater. U can't win worlds with a 7 triple free and not be considered a strong skater.
mlc2005 1 year ago
@mlc2005 First of all are you actually disputing what a weak year it was the year Maria won. Kwan had the flu and was subpar and still won the silver. Malinina a career nobody would have won the silver had she not stepped out of a jump in the short. Soldatova a junior caliber skater won the bronze. And winning with 7 triples does not make you a legend. Hughes and Miki Ando won Worlds or Olympics with 7 triples and difficult triple-triples Maria didnt try, and they still arent greats.
grafgirl27 1 year ago
If there has ever been a short program worth of a 6.0, this is definitely the ONE! IMO the best SP ever! When Maria got it right she was in a class of her own. Too bad she wasn't very often that consistent with her technique.
warriorgr 2 years ago 2
I always thought that skaters weren't allowed to have vocals with their music.. Was this okay because there were no words? Just curious.. Anyway, loved this performance.. I too agree that there should have been a few 6's for presentation.
mlc2005 2 years ago
I think the vocals are allowed if they act as an instrument-almost a capella but I'm not quite sure.
faeryquene 2 years ago
Vocals are allowed if they don't have lyrics.
warriorgr 2 years ago
Those marks are crazy. Why no 6.0s for presentation!!? This was easily worth a 6.0 for presentation. Also technical marks should be more 5.9s. Yeah the last 2 elements were so soish, but the other 6 were just amazing this day.
hairbrush81 3 years ago 3
This is the best short program I have ever seen. Music, skating, interpretation, all are like a dream!
I really miss her skating!
ancamg 3 years ago 3
I keep coming back to this, and several of kwan's, programs. This really makes me miss the old judging system (faults and all). We no longer have skaters who have DISTINCTIVE styles!
mlc2005 3 years ago 2
I meant that comment to be in response to mlc2005!
schulz1 3 years ago
When she was on form she produced some of the best ladies' skating ever.
schulz1 3 years ago 4
This. program. is. incredible. period!!!
smilioti 3 years ago
very bad spirals, but everything else was good. I like the music.
tinymavy 3 years ago
Hell, the fact that Button and Flemming couldn't really think of anything negative to say about a non-US skater tells you how good this one was.
mlc2005 3 years ago 15
Spot on! Brilliant comment.
schulz1 3 years ago 3
No, they did criticize her Spiral and her Layback. Which are of course the two things Dick ALWAYS focuses on.
Zuranthium 3 years ago
... and which he fails to criticise when it comes to American skaters. Michelle Kwan has one of the weakest layback spins in the world and yet he has never been nit-picky about it.
That was a truly beautiful performance by Maria! Well done!
Darkangel127 3 years ago 4
No, he criticized Kwan's layback. That is perhaps the reason why she modified it to have a more difficult position with her arms behind her back.
Zuranthium 3 years ago
I really miss Maria. I dont know exactly what it was about her, but I was just mezmorized whenever she took the ice, and was always hoping she would do well. This was an incredible program.
mlc2005 3 years ago
This is by far the best SP in ladies' figure skating in the last many many many years. Simply incomparable!
warriorgr 4 years ago 2
you so right!
best sp programm ever!
lovesunair 4 years ago
Gorgeous performance. Well deserved 1st place in the SP.
tapecase72 4 years ago 2
Great music...Super choreography and a beautiful performance...She is absolutely fantastic!
tetris566 4 years ago
her music is always beautiful......good for her, alwyas great presentation
venov67 4 years ago
I agree, this was by far her best short program ever. She really looked like a world champion here!
Iceman8822 4 years ago 2
I love her music!!! I think it's one of the beautiful music I've ever heard. And this was her best short program ever!!!!!!
AnnPatriceM17 4 years ago