1994 EUROPEANS : MARIA BUTYRSKAYA FP

[GreekOrca]

Wow, that was so good, it went by in a flash!

[akurrreyri]

If it wasn't for the stupid excessively girly costume, she would have made a much stronger impression. Considering the skating is brilliant and the music quite decent as well

[dylanvalente]

Yeah, how did she not win a medal with this performance?

[nolaughingmatter]

It's amazing how different Maria looked pre-1996 when she started gaining prominence. Her knees were so soft, and her skating had so much more flow than during her latter years.

[wundrwall]

what's the music to this? it's great

[BigA3372]

It is a selectio of pieces from Kojiki. The composer is Kitaro

[musicfan1999]

The description of this video is not accurate. She only attempted FIVE triples (not six- the flip at the end is a double) and the 3lutz was two-footed. Still, a great skate that should have won the bronze medal at least.

[stefrevollo]

@musicfan1999 sorry I got used to her attempting two triple toes...

[Darkangel127]

Why on earth did she finish 4th? What were the judges thinking?

[muffycat26]

Russia was upset with her for costing Russia a spot at the 94 Olympics by failing to get out of qualifying at the 93 Worlds. So the Russian federation had it out for her, and were pushing Olga. So there you go.

[splinterlake]

I think she beat Markova in the FS but was too far back in the SP (6th) to beat her overall?

I must say the level at Euros here was unbelievable compared to other splatfests throughout the 90s, it seems!

[BigA3372]

The standings after the SP were 1) Bonaly 0.5 2) Baiul 1.0 3) Markova 1.5 4) Czako 2.0 5) Szewczenko 2.5 6) Butyrskaia 3.0

In my opinion, In the long Maria should have been placed 2nd, behind Bonaly and ahead of Baiul, followed by Markova and Czako. This would have given totals of 1) Bonaly 1.5 2) Baiul 4.0 3) Butyrskaia 5.0 4) Markova 5.5.

Markova had a great skate in the SP, presenting higher difficulties than Butyrkaia and a better performance overall. Even better than Baiul, IMO.

[grafgirl27]

Czako over Butyrskaya and even Szewcenko is crazy. The judges were smoking crack.

[BigA3372]

@grafgirl27 In my opinion the placements were justified by the higher technical content presented by Czako. She went for a huge triple flip double toe combination, and if I am not mistaken also the double lutz had an arm aloft. All jumps were huge and the delay on the double axel was immense. I can see the placements in the short, though I cannot understand szewcenko ahead of butyrskaya...

[Jontor11]

@BigA3372 I completely agree with your ordinals for the long program. In addition, I would have had Butyrskaya 4th after the short, ahead of Czako and Szewczenko. Czako had a more difficult short but lacked in presentation IMO.

The totals then would have been 1) Bonaly 1.5 2) Butyrskaya 4.0 3) Baiul 4.0 4) Markova 5.5

Even if you don't have Maria ahead of Baiul in the long, she should at least have beaten Markova and finished 3rd.

[BigA3372]

@Jontor11 Yes, the short program was a close call. I'd say 5th for Maria, behind Czako but ahead of Szewczenko. For me between Maria and Oksana the clear winner was Maria, but the year before Maria failed to qulify for worlds, whereas Baiul won that competition. Add to this that in 94 Galina Zmievskaja brought back Zagorodniuk and Petrenko in the Ukrainian squad, and both of them medalled a few days before the Ladies round. Enough to have the judges rating Maria's performance behind Oksana's...

[Jontor11]

@BigA3372 Yes, that 1993 ghost from worlds haunted Maria for years and years. Both the judges and Maria herself never really seemed to have confidence in her...(until 1999). Maria's struggle was truly an ugly duckling fairytale...she never gave up and finally she got the credit for what she was worth - though it only was for a short time.

Without that 1993 worlds ghost, Maria surely would have medalled in this competition..and probably would have had better results in the years that followed.

[Iceman8822]

Thanks for posting this! It's nice to see Maria have a great skate like that!

I was wondering if you had Baiul's FP performance from this event?? I've been looking for it! Thanks!

[stefrevollo]

I will post it, don't worry. I thought it was already posted.

[Iceman8822]

Oh great, thanks!! I'm looking forward to it! :)