Kristi Yamaguchi (USA) - 1991 World Figure Skating Championships, Ladies' Free Skate

[officeaddict33]

Love her reaction after the artistic marks went up. She's usually so restrained and proper - nice to see her "lose it" in a joyful way.

[acuison1]

I think the Austrian judge gave Kristi a very low score because it was back then that judges worked with each other.  "I'll punish this skater in favor of your team if you give my skater a favorable score". Has Austria even won any medal in singles or even doubles? Really?

[3Axel1996]

@acuison1 Um, that was the Australian judge who gave her the 5.6. By the way, Austria's Claudia Kristofics-Binder was a former World medalist in the early 1980s. Also,Karl Schäfer was a multiple Gold Medalist in the Men's Event in the 1930s, therefore, the Karl Schäfer Memorial aka Vienna Cup is a non-Grand Prix event competed each year in October.  Austria was a strong force in figure skating in between the 1930s and 1960s...

[lutz84]

What's with the first judge :)

[slytherinnyc]

i miss this era of figure skating..........

[rickram1961]

@slytherinnyc

I certainly do as well! Just not the same anymore!

[muscleboi4use]

Thank you for posting. LOVE her body line, her carriage across the ice, she uses her whole body. Her jumping technique is so good, tight in the air, upright, and she travels so far across the ice in the air. And she had the ability to keep her head, even when things are not perfect. She had the "whole package".

[Parker528]

Still the voice of Hammond in the interview IS different sounding than the announcer/commentator; perhaps the commentator IS someone else...

[3Axel1996]

@Parker528 The commentator here is Dick Enberg.

[Parker528]

Oops, spoke too soon on that, now that I have seen all the way to the end,

[Parker528]

I am a little uncertain that it is indeed Tom Hammond commentating here; sounds a little off for his voice, esp the tone

[Parker528]

I mean "prediction" obvoiously, typo

[scootie12]

I love this performance, and I always love Kristi's reaction to the 6.0. I have to say I don't know why it always bothers me, but Tom Hammond says the gold is between Kristi and Tonya before Kristi even skates. It's like he's foreshadowing she'll skate well enough to be on the podium :) I guess based on the skating that night, and Kristi's consistency, it would be hard to NOT medal, but still, I don't think he knew what he was saying, LOL

[Parker528]

@scootie12 Did he make such a predication maybe based on how well Kristi had performed overall nationally and internationally, as compared to less experience for Harding? That might make sense, as it's always part of the drama of a sporting event to predict a favorite, or perhaps a battle between 2, so as to get the viewer more involved and interested. I think he was only coming from that angle. Not that he was doubting Kristi. Just my view.

[libralady1010]

@Parker528 Actually because the ISU had abolished School Figures, this was supposed to be Midori Ito's title.But strange things happen in Skating-like Laetitia Hubert of France and Ito crashing into one another during the warm-up and Harding losing her concentration after nailing a gorgeous triple axel. And Kristi NOT losing hers'. This being Kerrigans' first Worlds' she had no pressure on her.

[libralady1010]

@scootie12 I think that was a voice over of Enberg's [not Hammond] because Munich is 7 or 8 hours ahead of EST. I remember receiving a phone call before this was broadcast from a friend of mine there in Munich telling me the American Ladies had swept the medals. And I got the call @ 3:00 PM and it was broadcast that night. ;-)

[Parker528]

@libralady1010 Isn't there some ruling now, official or unofficial, or unspoken agreement among judges or maybe the policy after this sweep of the ISU that it is preferred to have no more than TWO medalists in an event, and maybe even moreso, if possible, only one medalist per country, if possible via judging? I am guessing that the last time 2 medalists from the country, at least Olympics-wise, was men's in Salt Lake, with Yagudin 1st and Plushenko coming up from a bad short to finish 2nd.

[libralady1010]

@Parker528 Not that I'm aware of. Everybody thought the US w/be lucky to have a Bronze here since Figures were abolished.That was such a bad thing for the up&coming chorinesFigures teach control on landings.Heaven knows it's hard enough on knees,landing jumps w/the correct technique&control.There were 5 potential US skaters heading into the '92 Olympics,The 3 who won here,plus Trenary &Holly Cook. Kristi thought this-'91 & '92 would be Ito's years & '94 would be hers'.Have to do it on THE DAY.

[Parker528]

@libralady1010 Oh really. New info everyday, I thought Trenary had retired after her '90 Worlds win. Anywho. Never saw Holly Cook skate, even tho I think I read she medaled at Worlds in either 89 or 90; too busy with college then to watch tv coverage of skating events. I DID see on TV Ito's win in 89 when landing that 1st 3axel in her LP. Even mor incredible was in 92 when Ito missed her 1st 3-axel attempt in her LP, but then like 3 or so mins later into the program she lands a good 2nd try.

[3Axel1996]

@Parker528 Trenary continued with hopes of winning a medal in Albertville. However, her downhill slide began with the 1990 Goodwill Games where she was defeated by Kristi. Then she developed a staph infection in her right ankle and had to have surgery, knocking her out of the 91 Nationals. She made a comeback at the 91 Skate Canada but had a dismal skate failing to land a single triple. After assessing her chances, she retired before the 92 Nationals.

[Parker528]

@libralady1010 Pls explain WHY US ladies werethought to be lucky to come out w/ just a bronze in 91. Were Yamaguchi, Kerrigan & Harding, on the world team that yr, seen as strong in school figures, but weak in the SP & LP, & therefore weak in new system? If so, who other than Ito was considered medal favs over US ladies? Was Ito's lack of a medal that yr b/c of taking off on a jump & flying off rink & into a cameraman? Is that what went on? Did she not medal b/c it rattled her? or a bad SP?

[3Axel1996]

@Parker528 It was definitely what had happened to Ito. She was expected to regain her World Title here. The crash into the camera pit injured her ribs and did rattle her when she tried to do the triple Lutz in the Long Program the next day. With Ito have a very sub par Long, Kerrigan skated a stronger program than expected, despite the fall on the triple Salchow because she landed a 3toe-3toe combination, which was not done at the 91 Nationals a month earlier.

[libralady1010]

@Parker528 Because we were strong in Figures.Kerrigan barely won the Bronze;she dug in&landed a triple lutz..Also had a 3 toe/ 3toe not planned.They were more than willing to give Ito a medal but that's what hurling yourself into the air day after day will do.She spent more time on jumps than Figures.Kerrigan, Harding & Yamaguchi ALL had to pass the USFSA test.They weren't the greatest in Figures but had the background in it.They were definitely NOT WEAK in the new (OLD)system.This CoP's sucks.

[libralady1010]

@Parker528 You're taking my words out of context.Britain,The US&Canada wanted to keep School Figures.Yamaguchi,Harding &Kerrigan all had the training behind them to do them; to hold landings.It helps a lot when taking off & landing a jump the correct way.Figure Skating is a fickle sport.Ito was notorious for flying around the rink@breakneck speedsThis was supposed to be her year.I think she thought it would be too.Don't forget Hubert of France.Kristi thought '94 w/be her Olympic year.

[3Axel1996]

@Parker528 NO SUCH THING. It's only an informal preference as the ISU believe that it's better to spread the wealth with the medals so that audiences from other countries don't feel shut out of a chance at a medal. But there have been instances since this where a single country has swept the medals. The former Soviet Union swept the Pairs and Ice Dancing medals at the 1992 Europeans, Russia swept the Ice Dancing medals at the 1993 Worlds.

[Parker528]

@3Axel1996 I guess I thought that, b/c in his reality show from last yr, Johnny Weir mentions that he knows if Evan finished higher than him at Olympics, he was unlikely to also get a medal, saying it was b/c of politics & trying to prevent awarding more than 1 medal/event/nation. You do mention the Russian sweeps in 92 and 93, & then we know about Plushenko & Yagudin in Salt Lake, what other times u know of since where 1 nation wins multiple medals in world-level competition? just curious.

[3Axel1996]

@Parker528 Lastly, Russia went 1 & 2 in both Pairs and Ice Dancing at the 2011 World Jrs., while at the 2011 Europeans, France was 1 & 2 in the Men's. And if it weren't for Savchenko & Szolkowy of Germany, Russia would have swept the medals in Pairs.

Had the 2011 Worlds taken place, most likely Japan would have won 2 medals in the Ladies' event, while there was a shot for the Japanese Men to sweep the medals.

[libralady1010]

@Parker528 1950's...Dick Button, Hayes Jenkins [ marrying Carol Heiss] and his brother David Jenkins.

[Parker528]

@3Axel1996 Maybe I misunderstood what Johnny meant when he spoke that, but I am confident he was flat out indicating that if Evan made the medal round at Vancouver, no matter how Johnny did placing lower, scores would possibly be manipulated to prevent any more multiple medals/event in world competition. Wait, now that I think about it, didn't 2 Japanese girls win 2 medals one recent year at Grand Prix final? Ando & the other one w/ the 3-axel who I am pretty sure won silver in Vancouver.

[3Axel1996]

@Parker528 Ando and Asada both won medals at the Gran Prix Final. Asada and Suzuki went 1 & 2 at the 2010 Four Continents, as did Canada in Ice Dancing. China went 1 & 2 in Pairs in 2010 Vancouver. Japan went 1 & 2 in both Men's & Ladies' at the 2011 4 Continents, as did the US in Ice Dancing and Canada was 2 & 3 in Pairs.

[3Axel1996]

@Parker528 Also, since the change to the IJS scoring system, it's difficult for a country to sweep the medals now. However, there was talk that at 2010 Vancouver, Belbin & Agosto were hung out to dry by the judges because there was belief that there was no way that the judges would let North America take the Top 3 in an event that was once dominated by Russian/Soviets.

BTW, where you spread the wealth only increases popularity in the medaling country. 2008 Worlds in Ladies was a good example

[1andonlyCobra]

@scootie12 It's Dick Enberg, not Tom Hammond.

[geester37]

I love how she skates, thanks for posting, this is great

[LaNinaNaranja]

great music :)