Midori Ito 1989 World Championship Freeskate

[mlc2005]

I agree. Ito, after watching skating for 30 years, is the best female skater of all time. A legend, and NO ONE commands this kind of excitement from viewers, commentators, other skaters, and fans alike. Really, completely in a league of her own. I feel sorry for those who had to compete against her, because she came out of no where and blew everyone away. And to top it off, she's a shy, sweet human being! You can't ask for more.

[raichmaneuvers]

I have seen you call Kwan the best skater of all time. So which one is it then, lol!

[mlc2005]

raichmaneuvers: hey, good point! With Ito, I meant best jumper/athletic skater. She's so much fun.

[raichmaneuvers]

@mlc2005 I think Ito at her best is worth a 6.0 technical merit and 5.8 artistic. Kwan at her best is worth a 5.8 technical and 6.0 artistic. So I guess who is the greatest ever depends whether they compete before 1988 with the tech. score being the tiebreaker or after with the artistic being the tiebreaker.

Personally I think Kim and Asada might be the 2 greatest skaters ever by the time their careers are over though.

[Anteros05]

@mlc2005 No offense. I would say, most accurately, she is the finest jumper ever. Not only the pure athleticism and height but her fearlessness and consistency. No one can top her. However, there was a significant amount of aspects to her overall package which were less than desirable. She had no real weaknesses, she just wasn't as stellar with everything as she was the jumps.

[bardtoob]

OMG, I never realized that she OVERROTATED the 3A.

[mlc2005]

A force of nature!

[russianskatingfan]

She is the greatest womens figure skater of all time!